RIVM Report 2021-0051: Analysis of incidents involving hazardous substances at Brzo companies 2021
[Source: RIVM, https://www.rivm.nl/publicaties/analyse-van-incidenten-bij-bedrijven-met-grote-hoeveelheden-gevaarlijke-stoffen ]
Summary
The RIVM analyses the nature, scope and cause of incidents at companies with large quantities of hazardous substances in the Netherlands. Seventeen incidents were analysed for this report. In fifteen of the incidents, hazardous substances were released, resulting in two fires. In another incident, there was a fire in an installation. One person died during the incidents. Two people probably sustained permanent injuries from burns and tinnitus.
Companies are responsible for ensuring that installations are in order and that employees can carry out production processes and work safely. In the incidents investigated, things went wrong in various areas.
For example, materials were weakened in six incidents or chemical processes were not well controlled in four incidents. As a result, processes ran differently, which was not discovered and rectified in time. In six incidents, companies had not or not properly implemented the emergency measures they should have. An emergency measure is, for example, preventing the release of hazardous materials by collecting them in a sealed container.
In fifteen of the seventeen incidents, the 'plans and procedures' for the work were inadequate. They were either not in place or insufficient to prevent an incident. This was mainly because some risks had not been anticipated in advance. Sometimes simple checklists could have helped to prevent the incident. In nine incidents, measures succeeded in limiting the harmful effects of hazardous substances.
This report is part of the assignment of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) to analyse incidents investigated by the Inspectorate SZW. The RIVM examines the similarities and differences between these incidents. The results can be used for inspection and enforcement strategies. Companies can use the insights to improve their safety policies.
