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Industrial risk prevention
To prepare for Ariane 6 and Vega-C launches, Europe’s Spaceport has to carry out high-risk operations on a daily basis. Accordingly, the companies operating at the Spaceport have put in place measures to protect people, the environment and property, both inside and outside the launch base.
SEVESO III classified facilities
Seveso III is a series of European directives requiring European countries to control major accident hazards involving dangerous substances. Companies have to identify risks, prevent major accidents and limit their consequences for people and the environment.
Because of its high-risk activities, Europe’s Spaceport has several Seveso III-classified facilities that have to be declared and authorised under the terms of prefectural decrees, in accordance with the environmental protection regulations:
• the solid propellant plant in French Guiana,
• the propulsion module integration building,
• the Air Liquide Spatial Guyane site,
• the payload preparation facilities,
• the launch facilities,
• the test bench for solid propellant boosters.
The Paris Fire Brigade at Europe’s Spaceport
Rescuing people, detecting fires, supporting industrial activities, moving animals, and more : the Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP) looks after the safety of people and property for the whole of Europe’s Spaceport and is ready to intervene at any time. To carry out its mission, around 80 BSPP firefighters work at Europe’s Spaceport.
The Paris Fire Brigade rinses down the Vega launch pad after a lift-off.
Mandatory training for employees
To prevent the dangers associated with the activities carried out at Europe’s Spaceport, everyone working on site must be trained in risk management. Organised on a regular basis, these sessions train employees in the behaviour they need to adopt to prevent or deal with a high-risk situation, whether it involves using a fire extinguisher or evacuating quickly.
Employees of Europe’s Spaceport receive training in risk prevention.
Classified companies for the protection of the environment
In order to minimise the environmental impact of the activities carried out at Europe’s Spaceport, the companies operating on site have gone above and beyond their regulatory obligations by undertaking a voluntary ISO 14001 certification process.
Find out more about environmental protection measures.
Measures in place outside of Europe’s Spaceport
Some high-risk operations also take place off the premises occupied by Europe’s Spaceport: at Félix Eboué airport in Matoury, where the satellites are flown in, and at the ports of Dégrad des Cannes in Cayenne and Pariacabo in Kourou, where Ariane 6 and Vega-C components are unloaded, along with the hazardous substances required for space activities. Hazard studies are therefore conducted on those sites in order to anticipate potential risks. Appropriate measures are taken to avoid exposing people, their property or the environment.
Unloading Ariane 6 rocket stages at the port of Pariacabo.