A 44-year-old worker died after falling into a rotating fermentation tube at the Paprec waste processing plant in Calais during maintenance operations.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, according to local reports. Emergency responders worked throughout the day in a difficult environment involving methane gas emissions before extracting the victim’s body shortly before 6:00 p.m.
The worker was performing maintenance on a compacting mechanism at the Sevadec waste processing site when the fatal fall happened. The structure involved a rotating fermentation tube measuring 4.50 meters in diameter, where waste is compacted by pales, as detailed by Guy Allemand, president of the Sevadec waste elimination and valorization syndicate, in reporting cited by ici.fr.
The rescue operation required extensive resources due to the hazardous conditions inside the facility. Approximately 90 firefighters mobilized for the response, including specialized personnel from the SMP, the Secours en Milieu Périlleux (Perilous Environment Rescue unit). Responders had to utilize specialized respiratory equipment and oxygen bottles because the decomposing waste materials continuously released methane gas, as reported by ici.fr.
City officials praised the scale of the emergency deployment. “De nombreuses forces de l’ordre et de secours, au premier rang desquelles les pompiers, ont œuvré sans relâche tout au long de la journée”, said Natacha Bouchart, the mayor of Calais, in a statement reported by ledauphine.com.
Bouchart further noted, “L’environnement de l’intervention, particulièrement contraint, a fortement compliqué la tâche des équipes et a généré le déploiement de moyens humains et matériels très conséquents”.
An official inquiry has been opened to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the worker’s death. Authorities confirmed that the precise circumstances of the fall remain unknown at this stage.
Accident du travail – @JPFarandou – @CollectifStop – 175 morts recensés en 2026 Calais (62) : un salarié de l’entreprise PAPREC agé de 44 ans est décédé. La victime a chuté dans un broyeur à déchets. Son corps a été retouvé après une journée de rechercheshttps://t.co/BLIM1OTxE3
| Incident Parameter | Reported Detail |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | Wednesday, November 11 |
| Time of Alert | Approximately 9:30 a.m. |
| Location | Paprec facility at the Sevadec site, Calais |
| Emergency Personnel Deployed | Approximately 90 firefighters (including SMP specialists) |
In the wake of the tragedy, psychological support was rapidly mobilized for the workforce. A dedicated psychological listening cell was established at the site to assist employees affected by the fatality, as noted by ledauphine.com.
Additionally, two coworkers who witnessed the accident were transported by emergency services in a state of shock to the Calais hospital for medical evaluation and care, according to reporting from ici.fr.
- BFM TV: Un salarié tombé dans une cuve de traitement de déchets à Calais retrouvé mort
- Le Dauphiné Libéré: Pas-de-Calais Calais : un salarié de 44 ans meurt après une chute dans une cuve
- ICI Nord: Calais : un salarié de l’usine Paprec meurt après une chute dans un compacteur
