Accidents and Incidents

No matter how many preventive measures are taken, accidents and environmentally relevant incidents can never be completely ruled out. At WACKER, we make sure we learn from such events to prevent their recurrence.

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Groupwide Safety and Environmentally Relevant Incidents in 2010

 

 

Site

 

Incident

 

 

 

1

Amounts released: very small: <10kg; small: <100kg; relatively large: <1,000kg; considerable: >1,000kg

 

Burghausen,
Germany

 

A very small1 amount of ethylenediamine escaped following the rupture of a nozzle on a glass column. The plant fire department brought the gas cloud under control with water cannons. The surrounding area was not affected.

 

Burghausen,
Germany

 

A small1 amount of fatty alcohol polyglycol ether foam escaped into the Alz Canal from the storm-water drainage system following heavy rainfall. The canal system was shifted over to the containment basin. Foam was visible on the Alz Canal for a short time.
No environmental impact.

 

Burghausen,
Germany

 

Sludge overflow in the wastewater treatment plant due to a sedimentation problem. The monitored threshold values for suspended solids (SS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were temporarily exceeded.
The authorities tolerated the higher values until the cause could be eliminated. The sludge overflow did not impair water quality.

 

Burghausen,
Germany

 

A small1 amount of silane escaped from a dispensing line. The plant fire department brought the resulting hydrochloric acid cloud under control with water cannons.
The surrounding area was not affected.

 

Burghausen,
Germany

 

A very small1 amount of hydrogen chloride gas escaped when deposits reacted with water on an evaporator. The plant fire department brought the gas under control. 14 people with breathing difficulty were examined by the plant’s Health Services unit. The surrounding area was not affected.

 

Wacker Metroark
Chemicals, India

 

Steam leak from a defective seal. Two employees were injured and taken to the hospital.

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Groupwide Safety and Environmentally Relevant Incidents in 2009

 

 

Site

 

Incident

 

 

 

1

Amounts released: very small: <10kg; small: <100kg; relatively large: <1,000kg; considerable: >1,000kg

 

Cologne,
Germany

 

A considerable1 amount of ethylene escaped from a leaky safety valve.
The surrounding neighborhoods were not affected.

 

Burghausen,
Germany

 

A small1 amount of silicon dust was released due to a damaged pipe.
The surrounding neighborhoods were not affected.

 

Burghausen,
Germany

 

A small1 amount of chlorine gas escaped from a broken connecting pipe. The plant fire department brought the gas under control. The surrounding area was not affected.

 

Burghausen,
Germany

 

Dust explosion occurred when unloading bulk materials into a conical pile. The plant fire department extinguished the secondary fire. The surrounding area was not affected.
The ANSIKO 2010 safety project was launched.

 

Burghausen,
Germany

 

Water entering a storage tank, from which a relatively large1 amount of acetic anhydride escaped, caused pressure to build. The plant fire department cooled the tank until the reaction was complete. The surrounding area was affected by a slightly unpleasant odor.

 

Burghausen,
Germany

 

A relatively large1 amount of catalyst escaped from a leaky valve.
The surrounding area was not affected.

 

Zhangjiagang,
China

 

A relatively large1 amount of hydrogen chloride escaped due to a leaky system component. The gas cloud was brought under control; contaminated soil was removed and disposed of. The surrounding area was not affected.

 

Burghausen,
Germany

 

A very small1 amount of silane escaped through a leaky flange.
The surrounding area was not affected.