Information on preparedness
NOAH has an industrial protection team that is trained to deal with accidents and any consequences thereof. Industrivernet has the training and equipment to deal with a number of different types of accidents, for example fire or personal injury, until external help can assist.
In accordance with the requirements of ISO 14001, the Major Accident Regulations, the Internal Control Regulations, the Working Environment Act and our internal procedures, NOAH works purposefully to:
- Avoid accidents
- Should an accident nevertheless occur, the consequences must be as minimal as possible
The following principles related to chemicals are followed:
- Strict rules are applied for the handling of hazardous waste
- Smaller quantities are stored at all times
- Only small quantities are processed at a time
Risk assessments with associated dispersion analyzes therefore show that it is primarily central areas on the island and the nearest sea area that are directly affected in the event of an accident.
Like many other industrial companies, NOAH's operations are on Langøya subject to the Major Accident Regulations. Simply put, this means that companies that store or process large quantities of chemicals with dangerous potential must follow specific requirements and report to the Norwegian Directorate of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (DSB).
Historical emergency incidents
In 1993, three weeks after NOAH took over the plant from Norcem, a release of nitrous gases occurred after nitric acid was mixed with sulfuric acid. Great media attention and a lot of unrest, no proven damage.
In 1998 NOAH experienced on Langøya a lower nitrous gas emission. With an improved processing facility, the volume was significantly limited, and there was no potential for large emissions.
In 2004, hydrogen gas was developed which exploded after mixing waste that was mislabelled. NOAH has installed gas measurement after this. No one injured, no environmental emissions, some material damage.
In 2004, magnesium shavings self-ignited in a separate water basin that was placed far from the processing facilities. NOAH no longer accepts magnesium waste. No one injured, no negative environmental emissions, no material damage.
In 2016, Bilfergen MF Kalkøy had a collision with a barge moored at the quay Langøya. One person was slightly injured and taken to a GP. There were no leaks from the vessels. There was limited material damage.
In 2018, technical failure of a tanker unloading fly ash caused the tank to rupture and parts of it to fall to the ground. Fly ash was spread over a limited area. Two drivers got fly ash on them and were routinely taken to the emergency room. The incident had no environmental consequences.
In 2020, NOAH experienced an accident when unloading CKD dust. The blowout was recorded as a cloud of dust above Langøya which gradually dissolved over the fjord. The incident did not result in injuries to persons or the external environment.
In March 2020, NOAH set up crisis staff at the outbreak of the corona epidemic. The aim was to secure employees' lives and health and maintain operations as a socially critical actor. Large parts of Norwegian industry, the district heating system in Sweden and waste treatment in the Nordics depend on NOAH's reception. The crisis team was activated throughout the pandemic.
As far as NOAH's facility in Engadalen is concerned, there have been no serious HSE incidents since the start-up in 2019.