It has come to APSB attention that there was one aluminium dust explosion, the other accident may have involved a pipe that exploded that occurred before the dust explosion. APSB apologizes for the error.
This unnamed plant was made aware of a potential safety issue by state officials. Aluminium dust had accumulated in the duct work. When the plant addressed the issue, it may have resulted in two explosions in two years. 2-4 workers injured, and facility and equipment damaged. Here is further information.
A late December 2010 explosion inside a Southern Virginia
automotive parts plant injured four contract workers, including two who face
potentially life-threatening injuries.
The flash fire and blast occurred just after 9:30 a.m.
inside the plant, while outside contractors were cleaning ducts of aluminum
dust on the east side of the building.
Damage from the explosion was visible on the exterior,
with aluminum panels in shambles and hanging off the building. Officials
responding to the scene had roped off the perimeter, and the 100 employees who
were inside were evacuated. None of the plant employees working at the time was
hurt, according to the local Fire Chief. Two workers were the most seriously injured, the local
Fire Chief said. They were airlifted to a North Carolina hospital because that hospital had
the closest specialty burn center. The two were both listed in critical condition as of
Friday evening. Two other workers were treated at and released from a local
Virginia hospital.
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| 2011 explosion damage, 4 workers injured, two of the worker had severe burns. |
A plant spokesperson said the contract workers were
conducting routine duct cleaning at the time of the explosion. "Our
thoughts and prayers are with them, and we're hopeful that each of them will be
OK," the spokesperson said.
The plant spokesperson was not yet aware of a
cause or damage estimates. The plant spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing
and that damage was limited to the area immediately surrounding the clean up
procedure.
Employees with the plant drove by throughout the morning
to see the damage, voicing concern about the explosive nature of aluminum dust. The spokesperson said the dust is flammable, and said that removing
the dust was among the reasons for the routine cleaning."It is a byproduct of the operation there," plant
spokesperson said.
A plant spokesperson said the contract workers were conducting routine duct cleaning at the time of the explosion. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and we're hopeful that each of them will be OK," the spokesperson said.
ReplyDeleteThe plant spokesperson was not yet aware of a cause or damage estimates. The plant spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing and that damage was limited to the area immediately surrounding the clean up procedure."
Makes me wonder what methods the contractors were using to clean the duct? So many traditional dust cleaning methods (e.g., sweeping, blowing with compressed air, vacuuming with a vacuum that is NOT rated for use with combustible dusts, etc.) can stir up the dust.
Kudos to the plant owner for recognizing a hazard in the ducts that needed abatement. However, it is always important to 1) select a properly trained and qualified contractor, 2) inform the contractor of the known hazards involved, and 3) verify that the contractor will use appropriate methods and safeguards.
Great comments. In 2011 through many visits to a lot of aluminium plants around the world. It amazing how often your point #3 are not followed through. The EHS plant personnel would do #1, #2, and just assume that the contractor was actually using the appropriate methods and safeguards.
ReplyDeleteTrust but Verify !