The chemical disaster of Seveso in 1976 had many impacts on risk assessment in the industrial world. Numerous actions of training, consulting and auditing, following the Seveso directives directives have been implemented. Their objective was to measure the impact of industrial activities on health and the environment. But also to make the study of evaluation of industrial activities related to the use of dangerous products, for example, toxic waste.
The study and analysis of the accident at the Seveso chemical site
Major industrial accident on July 10, 1976, it has partly impacted the regulations on the prevention of industrial risks and accidents. The first SEVESO directive was largely inspired by the French reference law n°76-663 of July 19, 1976 on classified installations for environmental protection.
At the time, no risk assessment was conducted. No crisis management measures were in place. And there was no emergency plan procedure. As unfortunate as these types of incidents are, they are a source of learning and new knowledge.
Thus, Gesip's support for the regulatory update, carried out within the framework of exchange and study groups, has enabled a significant advance in safety. Recognized by the authorities, the expertise and neutrality of Gesip's methodological guides are cited as references in regulatory texts such as those concerning the implementation of the POI (Internal Operation Plan).
The SEVESO directive, for a better analysis of industrial risks
The Seveso accident led to a European directive. It was adopted in 1982 in its directive 1 version, revised in directive 2 and then in Seveso 3 directive in 2012. They require actions to prevent the risks of major industrial accidents. And this in particular for the safety of facilities managing chemical products. Two types of establishments have been defined :
- Seveso high threshold establishments;
- Seveso low threshold establishments.
The PPRT (Plan de Prévention des Risques Technologiques - Technological Risk Prevention Plan) also helps control risks at Seveso high threshold facilities. This technological risk prevention plan is approved by the prefect on the basis of the various hazard studies produced by the industrialists, having led to the reduction of the risk at source and of the targets potentially affected by the accidental event according to specific kinetics.
Read also: France has more than 1000 industrial sites classified as "Seveso
Training of industrialists on Seveso risks
A company classified according to the ICPE nomenclature (Installation classified for classified for the protection of the environment) can be the source of a danger to human health or the environment. The transposition of the of the Seveso 3 directive in France has led to changes in the ICPE nomenclature.
This nomenclature allows the classification of facilities according to their type of industrial activity and the quantities of materials involved in these facilities. Additional categories have been added.
Gesip proposes different training courses on the needs generated by the Seveso directive for a company manager:
- On the regulations: hazard study for classified site (EDD);
- On the management of emergency situations: GS training (conventional, pipeline, chemical, gas), APCEx (APCex Chemical, APCex Gas...) and mixed industrial and public emergency courses ;
- On chemical risks: intervention and plugging of leaks during operation (INTOX OFM).
Consulting, auditing and qualification services for ICPE (installations classified for environmental protection)
At the request of industrialists, Gesip provides consulting and expertise services for ICPE. These consulting services are provided with the quality support of its network of experts in risk management, fire protection and QSE (Quality, Health, Safety and Environment). These actions are carried out under the supervision of the technical service engineer.
In addition, Gesip also provides qualification and quality control services. Indeed, Gesip is today the only French organization recognized as competent to to certify particularly efficient foaming agentsIts test protocol, which allows the quality of emulsifiers to be taken into account in the application rates used to draw up the POI, has been recognized by the Administration.