5. Accidentology and risks associated with silos

5.1 Silo accidents

The handling of granular products requires the installation of batteries of large storage silos, capable of holding several hundred tonnes of product per unit. The ensiling of divided solids in such silos presents risks of fire, explosion and collapse, of which the accidents that occurred in Metz (12 deaths in 1982) and Blaye (11 deaths and 1 injured in 1997) are the best known to the general public. The latter was behind the ministerial decree of July 29, 1998, which is still in force. In France, the inspection and monitoring of grain storage silos has been a major focus since 2006. In the ICPE (installations classées pour la protection de l'environnement) classification, all silos and storage facilities for cereals, grains, food products or any organic product...