"10 fire trucks....as thick, black smoke billows from the factory"

The use of a conveyor systems for material handling is common in many of our plants. The size and complexity of these conveyor systems may differ but the hazard of entrapment, fire, etc. can be found in each one. The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has posted incidents in the past involving workers who became trapped or entangled in conveyor belts. Here is a recent incident involving a conveyor belt that caught fire

A fire broke out at an aluminium plant in Tomago, Australia one afternoon during the week of January 3, 2016 .More than 50 firefighters are working on the blaze, which broke out on 100-metre long conveyer belt this afternoon.

About 10 fire trucks are now on site as thick, black smoke billows from the factory.

One building is well alight and crews are working to stop the large fire from spreading, a Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman told AAP.

Despite initial concerns, crews were able to stop the fire from spreading to a neighbouring storage silo. There’s been no injuries.

The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog is glad that no Tomago Aluminium company workers nor emergency management responders were injured in this fire. Though this incident may seem mundane to the reader we feel there is a lot to learn from every incident.

After every incident the plant’s emergency plan should be reviewed and items that need to be improved noted and additions or subtractions should be made. All parties involved should be brought together to review the incident. It is only through consistent review and updating of an emergency management system that a company will fully benefit from the time and energy put into it.

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