3. Product risks

Accident data show that the storage of agri-food products can lead to serious industrial accidents. There are various aspects to this storage activity:

• the products handled contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; they are combustible and can, if they burn, give off a lot of smoke and toxic effluents;

• the handling of agri-food products in the form of grains, cakes or pellets can be accompanied by a significant production of dust; this dust, when suspended in the air, can form an explosive atmosphere.

There are three types of hazards inherent in handling and storing food products:

• self-ignition of products stored in bulk;

• the fire ;

• the explosion.

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