Injured Workers & Owner Disappear After Explosion.....

Melting aluminium is hazardous if done without the proper equipment, safety protocols, personal protection equipment, etc. The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has posted incidents about "illegal" aluminium factories and the injuries and deaths that result for these operations. It is unknown exactly how many of these "illegal" factories currently exist. But their existence in so many countries around the world bring danger to their workers and those living nearby. Here is a recent story reinforcing that on why "illegal" factories are dangerous:

A sudden explosion occurred one morning during the week January 26, 2014 at an aluminium products factory at the East Dhantala area near Fulbari, India. Local village council members and other residents rushed to the spot at once upon hearing the noise.

New Jalpaiguri outpost personnel and fire stations were informed subsequently and it was determined that the blast was not caused by any bomb. Even, the police are searching for the factory owner and the workers who have all gone missing since the blast. Some workers have been injured in the blast, but the police are yet to determine the cause behind the explosion. The panchayat council members said a local Shaktigarh resident had been running the factory reportedly without obtaining necessary approvals.

The factory had been producing new utensils from used aluminium goods. The locals said the factory lacked in ventilation and this could have been the reason for the explosion. The general surmise is that a used aluminium piece could have exploded from excessive pressure during the melting process. While the matter is under investigation, the residents have demanded the administration to close the factory.

There is a plethora of resources available to those in our industry on the best practices toward safety when dealing with molten aluminum. The standard in our industry is the Aluminium Association's document "Guidelines for Handling Molten Aluminum" (pictured below). It can be found for purchase through the Aluminum Association here. 

The story mentions that the injured workers were unaccounted for when the authorities came to the business after the explosion. The APSB hopes that the injured worker(s) recover fully both physically and mentally from their injuries.

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