In a plant manufacturing titanium dioxide-based dyes, 600 kg of sulphur dioxide/trioxide and sulphuric acid (so-called sulphuric fog) were released into the atmosphere over a 45-min stretch. The accident was due to a malfunction of the controller managing atmospheric discharge[...]
A local resident notified the fire department and government authorities after observing suspicious smoke escaping from a 2,000-m² hangar housing some 8,000 tonnes of bone meal (max. storage height: 10 m). The suspicious parts were covered; however, fumes were once[...]
A monomer vinyl chloride (MVC) leak occurred on a 27-m³ autoclave in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) workshop at a chemical plant. Monomer polymerisation was dispersed in water at 6 to 9 bar of pressure and a temperature of 40° to[...]
In the 15th district in Paris, 8 cases of group contamination with legionellosis were detected on 1 September while the first symptoms were identified as early as 8 August. One patient died. The media pressure rose rapidly. The results of[...]
The lower part of a waste feed chute on a furnace (capacity: 28 tonnes/hr) at an incineration plant exploded. A technician was violently thrown and sustained serious injuries. Water under 3 bar of pressure cooled the base of the chute,[...]
A 34,000-tonne inventory of bone meal under a hangar awaiting destruction began to heat. A passerby noticed a glow and notified the site watchman. A response covering a few m² with a powder extinguisher halted the phenomenon. The characteristics of[...]
On the 2nd basement level of a factory in an urban area mixing and packaging aerosols, a stock of boxed supplies stored on pallets ignited. The presence of smoke and heat complicated the emergency response. An ensuing explosion slightly injured[...]
A tank undergoing cleaning exploded after a 15-day production run. Along with a damaged drum dryer, the tank had been collecting washing water with an excess concentration of 2'-azobis (2 methylbutyronitrile) - AIVN (a by-product of hydrazine hydrate). In anticipating[...]
During a regular facility inspection inside a silo, the Head of Operations saw smoke rising from 2 intercellular storage spaces (so-called "ace of spades"); he immediately shut down the installations. Fire-fighters controlled this combustion event, resulting from an accumulation of[...]
At a chemical plant manufacturing phytosanitary products, an explosion occurred on a multi-purpose unit; this blast was followed by the formation of a black, foul-smelling cloud hovering over the city, causing an electricity outage that disturbed rail traffic for several[...]
