ARIA : Feedback on technological accidents

The increase in the number of methanation facilities has also resulted in an increase in accidents from which feedback must be gathered over the last few years. As illustrated by recent accidents, incidental or accidental events can occur at all levels in the process when incoming material is received, and biogas is recovered. This flash brief details the lessons that can be learnt from the accidental discharge of polluting or hazardous materials.

Analysis of the ARIA database shows a sharp increase in NaTech events in French industrial facilities between 2010 and 2019. NaTech accidents are technological events that have been triggered or exacerbated by intense natural phenomena, such as floods, high temperatures or wind. In fact, during this decade, the number of recorded events has doubled, which correlates with the natural phenomena encountered. This article was written for the LPB (Loss Prevention Bulletin) and draws on feedback from this accidentology.

The study of accidents in the field of industrial automation, which has already addressed sensors and the processing function, continues with this third part devoted to actuators. This summary presents the causes of accidents involving actuators and makes recommendations. In a context where automation is increasingly prevalent, instrumentation technologies must be controlled collectively to improve industrial safety at all levels (design, operation, maintenance, dismantling, etc.)

Intermediate bulk containers are considered quite practical owing to their volume, compact design and easy transportability with just a forklift. As such, they are suitable for an extensive range of industrial and domestic applications. These containers are sometimes involved in a variety of accidents, however, including a massive fire at a chemical plant on 26 September 2019 in Rouen, France. This summary provides some insight into the accident which is also featured in the ARIA database.

As industrial operations resume in the wake of a health crisis, this Flash bulletin emphasises the recommendations derived from analyses of accidents occurring during the restart of operations. In addition to following the recommendations of the health authorities, it is important to conduct risk analyses to take account of the impact of these new modalities. Implementing supervision and communication measures should make it possible to ensure that technicians can resume their activities in complete safety and peace of mind.