Incident in a Seveso installation
Seveso installations produce, process, treat or store dangerous substances, for example refineries, petrochemical plants, chemical plants, oil depots or storage sites for explosive substances.
Seveso installations are divided into high- and low-threshold companies, depending on the nature and quantity of dangerous substances present in the company.
Risks and causes
Causes
What can you do?
BEFORE
- Find out in advance if you live near a Seveso company.
- Register at www.be-alert.be to be informed immediately in the event of a chemical accident.
DURING
- Are you outside? Stay away from the incident. Walk perpendicular to the direction of the wind.
- Take cover in the nearest building.
- Get inside and stay there. Taking shelter is the best way to protect yourself. Stay inside until you are informed that it is safe to leave.
- Close doors and windows and disconnect ventilation systems. Ideally find a place in a central room on the ground floor. Walls and ceilings offer better protection than windows.
- Follow the recommendations of the authorities. Find out what measures you need to take.
- Keep your children at school. They will also follow the same recommendations.
- Use SMS or the Internet to communicate. Keep the telephone network free so that people can contact the emergency services.
- In some cases, you will have to evacuate. Follow the instructions of the emergency services, do not do this on your own initiative.
AFTER
- A chemical accident may have an impact on drinking water and food, such as agriculture, livestock or garden vegetables. Follow the instructions of the authorities.
Impact and probability
The figures relating to probability and impact describe an extreme incident at a Seveso installation. The BNRA theoretically describes such a scenario as follows:
- There is a major leak and/or explosion at a Seveso installation. The impact zone of this incident extends far beyond the installation, into a densely populated urban area. This area also includes local organisations and other CBRNe companies.
- The incident is sudden or long-term (more than one day).
- It is a complex incident, difficult to control due to the combination of severity and location in a densely populated area.
How should you interpret these results?
Within the BNRA, experts assessed three scenarios for each risk: considerable, major or extreme. On each page, you will find the results of the scenario with the highest score based on the combination of likelihood and impact. This does not mean that this scenario will occur or is the most likely. Read more here about how to correctly interpret the results.
Probability
Weak
Human impact
Moderate
Societal impact
Moderate
Environmental impact
Very weak
Financial impact
Moderate
What do the authorities do?
A European Seveso directive aimed at reducing the risk of industrial accidents has been in force since 1982. This directive has two objectives:
- to avoid serious accidents involving dangerous substances
- to limit the consequences of these accidents for people and the environment
In particular, this directive imposes preventive safety measures:
- The obligation imposed on the operator of the company:
- to take all necessary measures to prevent major accidents and limit the consequences
- to draw up and implement a prevention policy
- to draw up and implement an emergency plan
- Inspection programmes. An inspection team, made up of regional and federal inspectors, is set up for each region. They regularly monitor Seveso companies through proactive and follow-up inspections.
- Spatial planning. Every Seveso company must obtain an environmental permit before starting its activities.
- Information communicated to the public. All the information you need about the Seveso risk can be found on seveso.be. An information campaign is also rolled out every five years.
- Rescue operations. Provincial governors are responsible for drawing up the Seveso special emergency and intervention plan (PSUI in French) for high-threshold companies.
In the event of a chemical accident, the Seveso general emergency and intervention plan comes into force.