Incident Report

Subject:     Germany - Cologne South: explosion at chemical plant of LyondellBasell - there is no risk for the population

Date of Email report:   Sun 22/01/2012

Report Detail:

NB:  In Chronological order – read from bottomof the reportup

Cologne, 21.1.2012, 7: 25 pm in a chemical plant of the company LyondellBasell in Wesseling was morning an explosion reported the Cologne fire stations. When the deflagration, fire service speaks of ethylene, slightly injuring seven people in the work. Discs to break should be gone in the vicinity of the chemical plant, this was not confirmed yet but for the Cologne South. The fire stations Cologne carried out intensive measurements in the Cologne South with the result that there is currently no health threat for the people of Cologne. 8: 24 Am >  Company Lyondell Basell has just informed that it had come to any fabric exit explosion. The number of casualties is of LyondellBasell is specified with seven people.

14: 45 >The company reports that all employees injured in the explosion could now leave the hospital and home, or at his own request to work were returned. Now it is clear also that the pressure wave created by the explosion destroyed Windows outside of the work.
12: 10 Am > Facility is closed

At a press conference, representatives of Lyondell Basell, but also the head of the Cologne fire stations Stephan Neuhoff explained the process, the first protective measures and the progress of the rescue operations. Andreas anchor, who is responsible for LyondellBasell for publicity explained the first information of the company. The explosion occurred around 6: 04 pm in the northern part of the factory premises of LyondellBasell. Was a LDPE plant in the ethylene is produced, which is used as a raw material for the production of utilitarian objects such as packaging film, or medical products. Now you have alerted local authorities, the own airport fire brigade and the shell of had been immediately on site. The plant is controlled, as it was needed in emergency situations, have been shutdown according to the spokesman of the company and been relaxed. Therefore currently no production takes place after the incident. Eike Peltzer, the head of the fire, said was to carry out a fire or open fire when fire-fighters on the ground, or delete.
With the appropriate medical service and rescue workers from Wesseling you've supplied seven injured people. All were sent to hospitals as a precaution. Two of the workers have now returned to work, five are to further studies departments in Ent. The employee suffered by the loud bang light trauma, that make themselves noticeable by ringing in the ears. External injuries but did not have the staff. An immediately initiated chemical measurement ran to dangerous substances which could enter into the atmosphere, although it's a free-standing installation negatively. "We apologize for the incident", so anchor, "can rule out but a threat to our neighbors and surrounding communities".

Stephan Neuhoff, head of the fire stations of Cologne, said that the blast of the explosion in the South of Cologne, but also in Bonn, Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, and in the District of Rhein-Erft-Kreis had been heard. Calls concerned citizens from a wide circle would prove that. The fire started immediately with measurements in the area. Revocation of industry road and Kerkrader road was prompted by the police for safety. Special focus on the measurements of the Cologne Fire Department were also due to the wind direction in the Godorf. We have identified a glass damage that was due to the explosion, in the Canaries. LyonellBasell, asked residents who may also have been damaged, to put up with the company about the here its citizen phone in conjunction. The Cologne Fire Department was with 35 forces on the ground.

Stefan Wietmarschen box Haltenhoff, one of the emergency, that was reached in his 26 years of service at LyondellBasell for the first time such malfunction. He and his colleague Thomas Maurer outlined the next steps. LyonellBasell as operation of the emergency regulation switched the Bezirksregierung Köln, which was already on site. In consultation with the District Government Cologne there will be a first inspection of the affected plant, to which you added is requests and external technical expertise, such as TÜV Rheinland. Together, it would be the cause of the explosion on the ground. A commit of the annex to the present time is too dangerous, because you would not know whether the blast of the explosion parts of the plant itself would have caused by. LyondellBasell is committed to full transparency. After the press conference, media representatives could visit the facility from the outside. A Commission is currently not possible for security reasons. Forces of the fire are on the ground and have most recently sealed a broken line from the steam came out. The traces of the explosion and Shockwave are clearly visible in some places, heavy steel door is clearly bend about one.
9: 45 Am >The Cologne Fire Department was with 10 vehicles, especially exploration and measuring vehicles and its leadership service in use.

8: 52 Am >The company has scheduled a press conference for 10: 00 am. Report k.de will keep you up to date.
8: 49 Am > The Cologne Fire Department has just communicated that the firefighting job has finished. It was so the Fire Department during the entire use there is no risk for the Cologne Fire Department.

8: 47 Am > The control center of the Cologne police communicated that it was supporting in the field of transport measures, but has no knowledge of any damage or injuries outside the factory premises in Cologne city.
8: 26 Am >No material leakage, citizen phone switched

The explosion at LyondellBasell in the Wesseling occurred against 6 o'clock in the morning the company was announced by just. The number of injuries three staff initially identified by the Fire Department now increased to seven employees the company. The explosion occurred in a polymer plant and there was no material leakage.

The company communicated in writing: "the system was controlled switched off and the affected area by the factory fire brigades LyondellBasell and shell secured;" the fire stations of Cologne is on standby. Seven lightly injured employees were first supplied by the emergency medical services and the Medical Department of plant and brought to the observation in a hospital as a precaution. Measurements were conducted immediately after the explosion, showed no material leakage. "A threat to the neighborhood does not exist."

You have to inform the competent authorities and will examine the causes of the accident. In addition, LyondellBasell has switched a public phone, the phone number is: 0 22 36-72 20 00

7: 52 Am > A spokeswoman for the company communicated to report k.de that one in writing will express themselves in the near future to the accident and surrounding circumstances. The accident occurred is not as originally reported on the business premises of the company Braskem, but at LyondellBasell, that referred to its location in Wesseling/knapsack as the largest site of LyondellBasell in Germany and the largest polymer site of the company in Europe.

7: 44 Am > In the early morning hours of today's Samstags 21.1.2012, it has come to a loud bang in the South of Cologne. Reason for this was an explosion or deflagration of ethylene on the business premises of the company LyondellBasell and not, as first reported by Braskem. It was made while not hydrochloric acid, said the Cologne fire stations. That is also on the business premises in use. Three people were rather slightly injured in the accident, as Chief of operations John Feyrer. The Fire Department currently conducts extensive measurements in the South of Cologne. It is with multiple measurement vehicles in use. According to first findings, discs to break should be received in the context of the work. How much and to what extent is not determinable at this early stage. The Cologne fire stations currently excludes a danger of the Cologne population

Additional Documentation: