Lack of safety: A look back at the TOTAL La Mède accident of November 9, 1992

The accident at TOTAL's La Mède refinery near Marseilles on November 9, 1992 was one of the most significant industrial incidents in the recent history of the French oil industry. This tragic event highlighted the dangers associated with oil refining activities, as well as the consequences of inadequate safety at such facilities. The latter point was already implied in our article "What is ATEX?".

Background to the accident

The La Mède refinery, operated by Total, is one of the largest in France, processing millions of tonnes of crude oil every year to produce fuels and other petroleum products. On November 9, 1992, a massive fire broke out on the site, causing multiple explosions, significant material damage and, tragically, the death of six workers, with many others injured.

Course of the accident

The incident began when a leak of naphtha - a highly flammable liquid hydrocarbon - occurred at a distillation unit. This leak, combined with an unidentified ignition source, led to a fire that quickly spread to other units in the refinery. Despite the efforts of emergency crews to contain the fire, successive explosions ravaged the facility, making rescue operations extremely difficult.

The fire lasted several hours before being brought under control, leaving behind a largely destroyed site and a deeply affected industrial community.

Causes of accident

The post-accident investigation revealed a number of contributing factors, mainly linked to shortcomings in safety procedures and inadequate management of industrial risks:

• Equipment failure: The naphtha leak that caused the fire was attributed to a material failure in the distillation unit's piping systems.
• Lack of preventive maintenance: The survey showed that crucial maintenance operations had either not been carried out on time or had not been carried out correctly, increasing the risk of technical failures.
• Inadequate safety procedures: Procedures for detecting and managing leaks of hazardous products were not rigorous enough to prevent the formation of an explosive atmosphere. In addition, emergency plans failed to react quickly and effectively to minimize the consequences of the incident.
• Personnel training: Inadequate training of operators and safety personnel was identified, contributing to a less effective response to the emergency.

Consequences of the accident

The consequences of the Total La Mède accident were severe, both in human and material terms:

• Loss of life: Six workers lost their lives in the incident, and several others were injured, some seriously. This event has had a lasting impact on the families of the victims and on all the refinery's employees.
• Property damage: The damage caused by the fires and explosions necessitated major repairs and partial reconstruction of the facilities. The refinery had to suspend operations for several months.
• Impact on Total's image: The accident severely tarnished Total's image, raising questions about the company's safety practices and the regulation of the oil industry in general.

Lessons learned and reforms

The La Mède accident was a turning point for industrial safety practices in France and Europe. In the wake of this event, several measures were taken:

• More stringent regulations The authorities have introduced stricter regulations for industrial risk management, forcing companies to strengthen their maintenance practices and implement more rigorous safety systems.
• Improved emergency procedures: Emergency plans have been revised to ensure a faster, more coordinated response in the event of a similar incident. Regular drills have been imposed to ensure that teams are prepared to respond effectively.

Training and awareness-raising: Greater attention has been paid to staff training, not only in safety matters, but also in raising awareness of the specific risks associated with explosive atmospheres and hazardous chemicals.

Conclusion

The Total La Mède accident of November 9 1992 remains a tragic reminder of the dangers inherent in complex industrial operations. It illustrates the crucial importance of rigorous safety management and risk prevention in high-risk industries. The lessons learned from this event have led to significant improvements in regulations and safety practices, aimed at preventing such tragedies in the future.

Despite this catastrophe, in 2001 another industrial disaster occurred: the explosion at the AZF site. Although the plant explosion was mainly attributed to an uncontrolled chemical reaction, this incident once again highlighted the importance of ATEX risk management in industrial environments.

For the term ATEX, as seen in previous articles, is used to designate explosive atmospheres, which can form in environments where flammable substances (gases, vapors, mists, dusts) are present. ATEX explosions can occur if three conditions are met:

1. A flammable substance (such as ammonium nitrate in the AZF case).
2. A source of ignition (such as a spark or a rise in temperature).
3. Oxygen (present in ambient air).

With regard to hazard studies, our company can help you measure industrial risks linked to explosive atmospheres.