In a cattle-feed plant during the ensilage of rape oil cakes, an explosion occurred on the return leg of a bucket elevator inside a horizontal silo while maintenance works (grinding and welding on a Redler conveyor) were ongoing in a shared room occupied by several material handling devices. Secondary blasts detonated both inside the elevator and on the adjoining storage zone. Fire broke out in the dust accumulated on the ground and structures. The 2 employees carrying out the ensilage operation were severely burned; one of them died several months later. The roofs and wall cladding were ripped off 30% of their exposed surfaces, with torn asbestos cement sheets ejected 20 m. Site operations were suspended by Prefecture order. Partial service restart was authorised gradually over time as the operator submitted safety reports and upgraded safety over the various installation sections. A systematic inspection covering some 100 silos across the region, in application of the 29th July 1998 Ministerial order, was undertaken by the Inspection authorities for classified Facilities.

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