History has
shown us that when molten metal escapes its intended container the results can be
catastrophic. The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has posted incidents covering
both spectrums. Here is a recent incident that emphasizes the need for molten
metal training.
Metal-X fire
extinguishers were needed to help a local fire department handle an aluminum
fire one day during the week of November 8, 2015.
The local fire
department responded to a fire call at a secondary aluminum smelting and
alloying company in the Midwest United States.
Initial
reports indicated the fire involved aluminum at the facility. Once the Metal-X
extinguishers were employed the department was able to handle the incident with
water although it took a great deal of manpower and breathing air to extinguish
the fire.
Equipment
and product were damaged at the aluminum company. The building experienced
little structural damage.
There is no
word yet on the cause.
The Aluminium
Plant Safety Blog notes that the media article did not state about whether or
not injuries occurred. Therefore we chose not to name the company nor location.
We hope that no aluminium company employees nor fire department personnel were
injured. We also hope that the production equipment and facility damage can be
repaired easily.
The question the
reader needs to ask is:
- “How many class D fire extinguishers does your plant have on premises?”
On our plant tours that is a question we always ask plant
managers. The next question that needs to be asked:
- “Do you have enough class D fire extinguishers onsite to handle any size fire, without relying on the local fire department?”
The last
question usually results in either “I don’t know” or “I never of thought of
that”. How would your plant answer those two questions?
Please comment.
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