eNatech - Natech Accident

Natech Accident Final

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Type

Natech Near Miss

Date

2024/08/13

Natural Hazard

High temperature, Germany, 2024

Site

Laundry Blaichach, Germany

Status

Final

Units Involved

Name
Containers with chemicals
Type
Other: Other
Description
Containers with potentially highly concentrated detergent solution

Event Sequences

Name
Inflated containers
Unit
1. Containers with chemicals
Description
Due to the summer heat on Tuesday 13/8/2024, two containers with chemicals inflated with the risk to break.

According to the deputy commander of the local fire brigade (the head of operations), remnants of a second chemical were suspected to have remained in a tub that channels detergent into the containers (thus preventing them the from running out of detergent) due to a chemical accident at the same laundry on the previous day (i.e., explosion in the tank of a machine due to a technical defect that resulted in approximately 300 litres of liquid detergent leaked out of the 1,000 litre container, which reacted with another substance, creating harmful vapours).
Initiating Event Critical Event Major Event
Substance: Over-heating
Due to the summer heat, two containers with chemicals inflated.
- -

Initiating Event	Critical Event	Major Event
Substance: Over-heating Due to the summer heat, two containers with chemicals inflated.	-	-

Weather Conditions

Precipitation

None

Temperature

31 °C

Emergency Response

Response Teams and Equipment Involved

Local fire fighting team
Local hazmat team

Response to the Natech Event

The fire brigade managed to prevent leaks. Firefighters equipped with special protective suits and under respiratory protection cooled down
the containers.

Around midnight the fire brigade stopped its operations. Around 130 forces from the fire brigade, police, THW and rescue service were on site.

Consequences

Human Health Impacts

The police stressed there was no danger to the population at any time. Thus, no evacuation measures were issues.

Community Disruption

The road passing from the town of Blaichach was closed and opened to traffic late at night.

Remedial Activities

Remediation Activities

A specialist company removed four barrels with a highly concentrated detergent solution, including the two inflated containers.

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned on Equipment

The triggered chemical reactions of the substances within the inflated containers was not related to the long duration of their use on the previous day.

If the chemical substances had remained in the tub and had come into contact with each other, toxic fumes could have developed.

ID: 129, Created: Kyriaki GKOKTSI, 2025-01-28 16:56:36 – Last Updated: Kyriaki GKOKTSI, 2025-01-28 17:14:19

Attachments

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