Seveso risk: major industrial accidents

What is the Seveso risk? 

Seveso establishments are those which produce, process, treat, use or store hazardous substances (chemical plants, refineries, large fuel depots, etc.). 
The name "Seveso" refers to the industrial accident that occurred near the town of Seveso in Italy in 1976. 

Upper tier and lower tier 

Seveso establishments are divided into upper-tier and lower-tier sites, depending on the nature and the quantity of dangerous substances present in the establishment. Due to this difference, upper-tier Seveso sites pose a higher risk in the event of an incident. In addition to reinforced internal safety measures and external controls, upper-tier Seveso sites are subject to a specific emergency plan drawn up by the authorities and emergency services to ensure the best possible response in the event of an incident. 

Seveso establishments in Brussels 

There are currently three Seveso companies in the Brussels area.  

• Confort Energy _ Anderlecht _ Lower tier
• Total Energie _ Neder-Over-Heembeek _ Lower tier
• Lukoil Belgium _ Neder-Over-Heembeek _ Upper tier

All three are fuel depots (fuel oil or road fuel). 

Possible types of accident 

In Belgium, every high-risk establishment is subject to strict regulations, and inspections are carried out on a regular basis, so there is a limited risk of serious accidents. However, accidents caused by certain hazardous products cannot be completely ruled out. 

Accidents at Seveso establishments can take different forms:

• Fire: This affects all or part of the facilities and may have an impact outside the company's boundaries (smoke, thermal radiation, etc.).
• Toxic release: Emission of chemical substances into the air, which may require containment or evacuation. This risk has not been identified for the Seveso sites in the Brussels Region, except in the event of fire (as all smoke is toxic in itself).
• Ecotoxic risk: An ecotoxic risk exists when there are emissions of poisonous substances with consequences for the environment, e.g. contamination of water or soil.
• Explosion risk: This risk has not been identified for the two lower-tier sites in the Brussels region. Under certain conditions, an accident at the Neder-Over-Heembeek upper-tier Seveso site could lead to the localised formation of a gas cloud that could explode.

Preventive and control measures 

Seveso establishments must comply with a number of legal requirements, including:

• Prior reporting of activities
• Preparation of safety reports
• Implementation of safety management systems
• Planning of emergency measures

Checks are carried out by both FPS Employment and Brussels Environment to ensure that all conditions are met. 

Emergency planning 

Even if the establishments concerned and the authorities make every effort to minimise the risk of incidents, they cannot be totally ruled out, and the authorities and emergency services are prepared for them. For upper-tier Seveso sites, this preparation takes the form of a specific emergency plan.  

In the Brussels-Capital Region, the Governor for crisis management's Federal Services are responsible for drawing up and updating this "specific emergency and intervention plan" (PPUI), in collaboration with the emergency services and the establishment. This plan sets out the procedures to be followed and the resources to be deployed in the event of a major accident, as well as the protective measures to be taken by citizens. 

This emergency plan is frequently updated and drills are carried out regularly. 
 

What can I do as a citizen? 

Obtain information in advance 
Check whether you live near a Seveso establishment. If you are aware of the risks in your environment, you can also be more prepared for them.

Prepare 

• Register with BE-Alert to receive a message in the event of an emergency.
• You can also draw up an emergency plan for any risk at www.monplandurgence.be. It will help you and your family to react quickly and correctly in the event of a major accident.
• Build an emergency kit. If you have an emergency kit at home, you can take shelter for a while or evacuate quickly.

In the event of an incident 

In the event of an accident at a Seveso establishment, the authorities will issue directives and recommendations to the population. These will be defined according to the scale and nature of the incident. If you find yourself in the vicinity, the best way to protect yourself is to take shelter and avoid coming into too much contact with the fumes.

Sheltering is understood to mean:

• Entering and remaining inside a building.
• Closing doors and windows and unplugging ventilation systems.
• Even if the risk of explosion is limited, it's best to keep away from windows in the event of a blast.
• Follow the recommendations of the authorities. Find out about the right measures to take.

Do not evacuate on your own initiative. This includes leaving by car to avoid getting stuck in traffic and hindering the work of the emergency services. If an evacuation is necessary, the authorities will pass on instructions to those affected, ensuring that an evacuation takes place calmly and safely. Do not pick up children from school. They are looked after and safe.

Listen to the authorities and emergency services. They will keep you informed through the media and social networks, and will tell you when precautionary measures can be lifted. Only contact 112 in the event of a life-threatening emergency to avoid overloading the line, allowing for the most urgent calls.