Avonmouth water works explosion, Dec 2020

[StoneRoad]

Wessex Water's plant in Avonmouth has experienced another explosion.

Avonmouth water works explosion: 'Multiple casualties' reported - BBC News

By the look of the damaged tank - those multiple casualties are going to include a few sore heads and (bust) eardrums.

E2A - for clarity, I wrote the above BEFORE the casualties were announced, I didn't know there were any - a lot of waste water plants appear to be semi-automated, with few people on site, normally.

 

[gentlegreen]

My brother is an electrical engineer for Wessex - though he services a large area so I have my fingers crossed ...

 

[kalidarkone]

Four dead.

Four dead after explosion at Avonmouth water plant in Bristol

Police declare major incident following explosion involving chemical tanks

www.theguardian.com

 

[StoneRoad]

Very sad news.

three WW employees and a contractor, apparently.

Sympathies to the families & friends.

 

[DaveCinzano]

Workers had warned management about the potential for catastrophe, to no avail it seems.

If this was Italy in the 70s colin fucking skellet would be shot in the kneecaps by the red brigades

CORPORATE MURDER IN AVONMOUTH? | The BRISTOLIAN

thebristolian.net

 

[Aladdin]

Awful

 

[DaveCinzano]

 

[tufty79]

Jesus christ

 

[xenon]

Nasty. I heard a lot of sirens though this was around 12:15. about an hour after it was reported. I'm on a main road, so probably crews going in from South Bristol to help.

 

[xenon]

Jesus christ

Nice to see you back Tufty BTW.

 

[tufty79]

Ty.
My dad used to work at treatment plants for our water board a million years ago - site visits were a treat when I was little.

I realise today's environment and processes are probably completely different to what I knew 30byears back, but my first thought when I read "explosion" was what about the people who were outside/not somewhere safer like a portakabin.
My old neighbour works at a similar biowaste/ water processing thing in huddersfield these days, I think.



E2a I hope your brother is ok gentle green.

Condolences to all involved.

 

[Dogsauce]

I went round that site on one of the heritage open days many years back. They were doing quite innovative environmental stuff then.

horrible news, but also only newsworthy because major industrial accidents are a rarity these days. It is a dangerous industry still.

 

[BristolEcho]

Shit. We had a message to cancel all visits in Avonmouth until further notice. Hadn't seen any news.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Nice to see you back Tufty BTW.

Yes, lovely to see you back tufty79 despite the grim circumstances of this thread. Hope you're doing OK.

 

[Sprocket.]

Awful as ever to hear workers have been killed. Sympathies to their families, friends and work colleagues.

 

[Chilli.s]

Yeah RIP, hope the compensation is huge and prompt.

 

[gentlegreen]

I've heard nothing from my family so I assume my brother wasn't directly involved - though doubtless he would have known the victims as I'm pretty sure he had worked at Avonmouth.

I'm amazed a biogas tank could explode in this day and age - but since the casualties were on top of the tank and a "contractor" was one of the casualties, it sounds like it may come down to safety procedures .

 

[gentlegreen]

Edoardo Piano 4th December 2020 at 12:41 pm


I am afraid this was not an anaerobic digester as suggested in this article but a digested cake silo. It is also mentioned that the product may have been limed. The two flammable substances that could be released in those silos are methane and ammonia.
From the photos available, the silos do not appear to have active ventilation fitted suggesting an accumulation of flammable gases would have been possible within them, likely making them a zoned area.
This is definitely a milestone for the industry and its approach to area classification of its assets. It is regrettable that as often happens, an accident is required to stir things up.
My thoughts and prayers are with the works, their families and colleagues.

Investigation underway after Avonmouth waste explosion

An investigation is underway after four people were killed in an explosion at Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling centre in Avonmouth.

www.theengineer.co.uk

avonmouth digested cake silo - Google Search

www.google.com

 

[Sprocket.]

One of those workers killed was only sixteen years old. Terrible.
Avonmouth explosion: Four people killed at water works named Avonmouth explosion: Four people killed at water works named

 

[StoneRoad]

further info ?
Avonmouth explosion: Boy, 16, among four workers killed - BBC News