The sites of
Geleen and
Delft in the Netherlands report their environmental incidents within 24
hours on their websites (in Dutch only).
DSM strives to continually improve its performance in the field of safety,
health and environment (SHE). However, there is always the possibility of
something going wrong. The following list summarizes the most important things
that went wrong in 2008.
Fatality at DSM Pharmaceutical Products
On August 28 a fatal
accident occurred at DSM Pharmaceutical Products in Venlo, the Netherlands. A
DSM employee was blown off an empty, clean, nitrogen-pressurized tank
container while he was depressurizing the tank via the manhole. The manhole
suddenly opened and he was lifted to a height of 15-20 meters. He fell to the
concrete floor and died instantly.
In response to this tragic occurrence, all DSM units have reviewed their
loading and unloading procedures. During the Global Manufacturing Conference
held in Shanghai, China in November 2008, a ‘closing the safety loop’
initiative was started by Feike Sijbesma, Chairman of the DSM Managing Board.
Q1
-
At the DSM Fibre Intermediates facility in Augusta, USA a maintenance employee
was hurt by hot water when installing blanks on a heat exchanger.
-
During transport of a resins product in France an IBC (intermediate bulk
container) that was not properly secured was lost from a truck on a public
road.
-
A small hydrogen fire occurred in the Caprolactam plant of DSM Fibre
Intermediates in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands due to a leakage from the
hydrogen compressor.
-
At DSM AGRO in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands a mechanic was observed working
without a valid work permit and not appropriately applying the Lock-Out
Tag-Out procedure, which is required to safeguard against restarting of the
equipment (serious near miss).
Q2
-
A truck carrying resins caught fire due to an off-site collision in Italy.
-
A 400 V cable was hit at DSM Melamine in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands while
soil drilling was in progress.
Q3
-
The DSM Fibre Intermediates plant in Augusta, USA is under scrutiny from state
regulators concerning its acknowledged under-reporting of cyclohexane
emissions in the past. The under-reporting was reported by DSM immediately
after its discovery.
-
At DSM Fibre Intermediates in Nanjing, China on 20 August a number of
employees were exposed to an ammonia gas cloud that came from a neighboring
(non-DSM) site. A total of 232 employees (both DSM personnel and contractors)
required treatment and observation in the hospital.
-
At DEX Plastomers in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands, approximately 500 tons
of hexane was emitted via the cooling water system due to a leakage of a heat
exchanger.
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A limited number of batches of Fromase® XL, an ingredient produced by DSM Food
Specialties to coagulate milk for cheese-making, were found to cause a
difference in the taste of the end product. The relevant batches were
identified. It was shown that the product had no adverse effect on health. New
product has been available since September 2008.
Q4
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An employee in DSM Pharmaceutical Products in Linz, Austria suffered
second-degree burns to his legs when scalded by hot water that spilled from a
filter as he opened it.
-
At DSM Nutritional Products in Lalden, Switzerland and DSM Elastomers in
Triunfo, Brazil, small fires occurred in a classified (potential explosive)
area.
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During industrial cleaning work at DSM NeoResins+ in Hoek van Holland, the
Netherlands, a contractor sustained serious injuries when his hand was caught
in the high pressure beam.
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At DSM Engineering Plastics Jiangsu, China, an operator started to feel sick
when working in a liquid nitrogen installation. Although the installation is
in the open air, the oxygen concentration at the spot was only 9%. The
operator managed to flee quickly from the spot.
