plant safety

Water bodies can contribute to climate change as sources of greenhouse gases – this is the conclusion of a new UBA study. Modified water bodies in particular emit carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Renaturalisation and the reconnection of floodplains can help to reduce these emissions and enable water bodies to act as greenhouse gas sinks.

Sources of natural hazards, such as heavy rainfall, flooding, winter storms or lightning, can cause major accidents. Climate change can change the intensity, frequency and local distribution of such sources of hazards. Operators of installations in which large quantities of hazardous substances are present and the authorities responsible for them must therefore adapt their risk management.

How to prevent chemical accidents due to natural hazards, like earthquakes or floods, in installations containing hazardous substances which may cause harm to humans or the environment? Below you will find Good Practice Examples in Natech Risk Management which were collected in the Natech-II-Project.

Examples like the earthquake and tsunamis 2011 in Japan and the devastating hurricane Harvey 2017 in the USA, make aware that natural hazards not just cause destruction of private houses but also led to accidents at installations containing hazardous substances. They can cause releases of hazardous substances, fire, and explosions endangering people and significantly pollute the environment.

Emissions to air, water and soil and the number of accidents at industrial facilities due to shortcomings in accident prevention had taken on alarming proportions by the 1970s. UBA addressed the problem and in the years since then has formulated a comprehensive risk management strategy for international river basins.

Accidents at refineries pose a particular risk for water bodies and groundwater. Hence, efficient safety management is essential.

The failure of Tailings Management Facilities (TMF) leads worldwide to severe disasters. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) thus developed in 2009 “Safety Guidelines and Good Practices for Tailings Management Facilities”.

Plant safety and industrial-accident prevention measures aim first and foremost to prevent accidents at plants where hazardous substances are used – and in the event of an accident, minimize the consequent health and environmental effects. At the UBA, all such measures are based on the principle of sustainable production processes.