China announces 8 cases of chemical industry and hazardous chemical production safety accidents 
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management posted several cases of industrial accidents that occurred in chemical industry and hazardous chemical production enterprises on its website on December 9, 2020. There were 127 chemical industry-related accidents occurred nationwide from January to November 2020, and caused 157 deaths. In order to prevent similar accidents, the ministry has posted a total of eight examples of chemical-related industrial accidents that occurred this year on its website. The following are some of the examples.
Explosion accident at a silicon-related company in Hubei Province
On August 3, 2020, an explosion occurred at the methyl tributyl ketoxime silane production workshop of Lanhua Silicone Co. in Xiantao City, Hubei Province, causing 6 deaths and 4 injuries.
According to the report of the Ministry of Emergency Management, the equipment that caused the explosion was illegally designed and installed, and the explosion occurred during its trial operation. It is probable that the accident occurred due to a lack of awareness of the dangers and hazards of 2-butanone oxime hydrochloride handled at the work site, and the lack of rules regarding operation.
Poisoning accident due to toxic gas leakage from VOC processing equipment
On September 14, 2020, toxic gas leaked from a VOC processing equipment of Jinmao Energy Science and Technology Co., Ltd in Shanxi province. causing a poisoning accident. Four people died and one person was injured in the accident. According to the results of the investigation, hydrogen sulfide gas was generated when the operator mistakenly operated the VOC-related work and reacted the acidic waste liquid with alkaline waste liquid, which led to the poisoning accident.
Fire accident at a fluorosilicon material company in Zhejiang Province
On November 9, 2020, a fire with a burned-out area of about 2,000 m2 occurred at Zhongtian Dongfang Fluorosilicon Materials Co. in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Although no casualties were reported, the fire had a great impact on society. According to the investigation report, the fire was caused by a worker mixing slaked lime and high boiling point material in a bag, which caused a reaction and ignition. It can be said that the workers’ lack of knowledge about the dangers of high boiling point materials and their blind use of the materials were the causes of this accident.
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