Reports are emerging from the United States about an explosion at a Veolia facility in West Carrollton, Ohio that injured at least four workers, two of them seriously.

The local newspaper is reporting that:

According to West Carrollton Fire Chief Jack Keister, six employees were transferring solvents from one tank to another when they noticed a vapor leak. Somehow, the leaking fumes ignited and exploded about midnight in an area of storage tanks behind a laboratory building at the plant on Infirmary Road.

One worker suffered first- and second-degree burns and another suffered a leg injury, Keister said. Of the man with the leg injury, Keister said, “At first we thought he was deceased. He came walking out of the woods about three hours into the fire.”

Brian Marlatt, an environmental specialist on hazardous materials for the Ohio EPA’s Dayton office, said he’ll investigate the cause of the explosion, the “full nature and extent” of any chemical releases, and whether there were any violations or negligence involved.

Veolia Environmental Services was groping for answers as to what caused the explosion and fire that alarmed neighbors for miles.

“We are still investigating exactly why the explosion occurred. Preliminary indications are that it was related to the recycling of a solvent material,” the company said in a prepared statement.

According to another report:

West Carrollton Fire Chief Jack Keister said the explosion knocked small buildings on-site off their foundations. Emergency fire and police radio traffic indicated that shock waves took down nearby trees 4 to 6 inches in diameter…air sampling showed particulate matter was blown throughout the neighborhood.

The news story has received additional extensive coverage on and film footage of the fire is available from some US websites, such as Fox Toledo and WHIOTV, showing huge flames and extensive damage to nearby homes and businesses.

Accidents, fires, explosions and mishaps at Veolia plants are not limited to their American operations. On the 23rd March 2009, for example, the Birmingham Mail reported on a fire at Veolia facility in Small Heath:

Firefighters today remained on standby at a blaze-hit industrial unit in Birmingham. Three crews were monitoring Veolia waste recycling warehouse in Armoury Road, Small Heath, to control burning embers while fire investigation teams tried to establish how the inferno started.

The factory was totally destroyed by the blaze which broke out at 4.50pm on Saturday. The factory is not likely to open again for business for some time. No-one was immediately available for comment from Veolia.

In July 2007, a chemical fire at Veolia’s Lancashire industrial site forced the motorway to be closed. According to a BBC News report:

Drums of chemicals were exploding on the Veolia Cleanaway site on the Red Scar industrial estate in Ribbleton, in the early hours of Monday…People living nearby were advised to stay indoors and close all windows and doors.

In December 2008, two workers from Veolia’s West Berkshire operations were injured as their bin lorry crashes into a telegraph pole. Newbury Today reported:

Two waste workers were injured when a bin lorry toppled onto its side and into a telegraph pole in Ashford Hill at 7am on Tuesday (December 9). The heavy lorry, which belongs to West Berkshire waste contractor Veolia, was travelling north east through Ashford Hill towards Brimpton Common when it left the road and fell down a grass verge and into a hedge – destroying a telegraph pole.

In July 2008, the Cambridge News reported on a “toxic smoke scare” also associated with Veolia:

Toxic smoke rose above Cambridge today after a chemical fire broke out at an industrial premises. Six fire crews were scrambled to the headquarters of Veolia Environmental Services in Cowley Road at 6.23am this morning, after a reaction in a chemical drum spread to other barrels nearby.

A plume of smoke containing small amounts of sulphur dioxide and ammonia rose above the site, with firefighters advising businesses in the area to keep their windows closed.

In April 2007 the BBC News focussed on an incident in Derby:

Crews fight fire at waste station

Fire crews have been tackling a blaze which broke out at a large waste transfer station in Derby. The fire started late on Monday morning at the Veolia works off London Road in Alvaston in the city.

The fire service said 200 tonnes of rubbish caught fire. Six crews went to the scene. None of the 50 employees on the site were hurt.
The company said contingency plans for the transfer of waste to alternative sites were in place.

More examples of similar incidents can be found at the People Against Incineration (PAIN) website.