14. Glossary

Major accident

An undesired event, such as the release of a toxic substance, a fire or a major explosion resulting from uncontrolled developments during the operation of an establishment covered by this Directive, causing a serious immediate or delayed danger to human health inside or outside the establishment and/or to the environment, and involving one or more dangerous substances.

ATEX (explosive atmosphere)

According to article R. 4227-43 of the French Labor Code, an explosive atmosphere is "a mixture with air, under atmospheric conditions, of flammable substances in the form of gases, vapors, mists or dusts in which, after ignition, combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture".

Kinetics

The speed at which the events in an accident sequence occur....