OvV 2018 - Chemistry in cooperation - Safety at the Chemelot industrial complex
[ Source: Dutch Safety Board, https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/nl/page/4707/chemie-in-samenwerking-veiligheid-op-het-industriecomplex-chemelot
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Summary
At the Chemelot chemical complex in Limburg, large-scale work is done with hazardous substances. There is also a research and education campus on the site, which is home to an average of 2,500 researchers and students. The site is located near various residential areas in the municipalities of Sittard-Geleen, Stein and Beek. A special feature of Chemelot is that all companies and institutions on the site fall under one umbrella environmental permit.
In 2016, four incidents occurred at the Chemelot chemical complex in Limburg: three serious emissions of hazardous substances and one fatal accident. The Safety Board conducted an investigation to find out how parties at Chemelot manage safety and what shortcomings and vulnerabilities exist.
The investigation showed that process safety was deficient. Inspection and maintenance were not always in order, work instructions were not followed and potential risks were not identified. The age of the installations also played a role. The majority of the plants at Chemelot were designed in the 1960s and 1970s. Maintenance and inspections are carried out, but too little attention is paid to the systematic improvement of the plants in line with current insights. For example, many installations lack an overview of the production process conditions, although this is technically possible. The Safety Board has arrived at the following recommendations:
To the Brzo companies on Chemelot, Chemelot Site Permit B.V. and the Chemelot Foundation
- Formulate ambitious safety targets for the Chemelot industrial complex and make them an integral part of the Chemelot 2025 Vision;
- Implement a safety approach to fulfil the safety ambitions of Chemelot as a whole;
- Strengthen the management of Chemelot by adding a critical and independent form of checks and balances to the management of Chemelot;
To the management and shareholders of Brightlands Chemelot Campus and Chemelot Site Permit B.V.
4. Implement an explicit and traceable process for weighing up the importance of expanding or adjusting non-industrial activities at Chemelot against the safety risks for the people present there;
To the Provincial Executive of the Province of Limburg
5. Formulate an ambitious and detailed vision in cooperation with the surrounding municipalities to promote safety at Chemelot and for the surrounding area.
