Also, the waybill was not checked and someone from FrieslandCampina watched the driver used a wrong coupling piece for unloading his load in a tank of nitric acid. “The provisional findings show that both human and technical and organizational factors played a role,” the company says, that the results also sent to local residents in Borculo.
The incident was discovered around 3.30 pm, almost two hours after unloading. A specialized company emptied the mixture in a separate container. A few hours later, an orange cloud with chemical substances such as chlorine gas and nitrogen dioxide was released that passed through the environment. The site was evacuated around 9 p.m. and the tank exploded at 10.13 p.m. Specially trained staff from FrieslandCampina was unable to respond adequately, the company notes afterwards.
Argwan population Borculo Groot after explosion FrieslandCampina factory: ‘The trees immediately colored brown’
Due to the incident, harmful substances ended up in the area. After measurements, the Rijn and IJssel water board found that the contamination at the factory site is not worrying and that remediation of the soil is not necessary. This also applies to De Berkel, the river that runs along the site. FrieslandCampina has started a ground and water remediation. No one was injured by the explosion and the chemical cloud that was released. The acid that became mixed is used to clean installations.
FrieslandCampina says, in response to the explosion, among other things, to tackle the signposting on the site and to sharpen the access controls. The control of Bulkchemicals is also carried out by six employees from now on. The company says it will compensate damage by compensating the explosion.
There are two factories on the site in Borculo. The location where the explosion was, a children’s food factory, will be restarted in phases in the course of September. The Gelderse municipality of Berkelland, which includes Borculo, reacted indignantly and at least asked the company to wait until there has been an information evening for residents. It will be held on September 18. “This restart takes place with the greatest possible care and always in close consultation with the competent authorities,” says FrieslandCampina.