"Transferring molten metal ...sets truck on fire....."

The handling and transfer of molten metal is hazard in our plants. Overtime through technical improvements that hazard has been minimized. Nevertheless, on occasion molten metal may spill during the transfer process. If molten metal comes into contact with an ignitable substance a fire could result. Here is a recent story emphasizing the hazard of transferring molten metal.

During the process of transferring molten metal at aluminium producer BHP Billiton’s Hillside plant in South Africa, a truck caught alight in the early hours of one morning during the week of April 6, 2014.

The metal carrier was pouring the high temperature product into a furnace at the Hillside casthouse when it spilt liquid aluminium on the vehicle’s tyre, igniting it. BHP Billiton Aluminium SA confirmed the incident on Thursday, stating no injuries were sustained.

‘The incident resulted in damage to the vehicle and visible emissions due to the fire. ‘The incident was controlled by the Aluminium South Africa (ASA) Fire and Emergency team and an investigation is in progress,’ the group said.

The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog is glad that the driver of the vehicle was able to exit the vehicle without any injuries. We would also like to commend this aluminium plant for quickly acknowledging the seriousness of this incident and requesting assistance from the local fire department.

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