We are at a loss of words (yes we really are!) when we visit plants
who place importance on their hazards by their quantity not by their presence. These
plants tend to either discount or downplay the hazard(s) until an incident. Here
is a recent story that illustrates the hazard of a small amount of molten metal
escaping its intended container.
More than two dozen firefighters have been tackling a blaze at an automotive plant in the United Kingdom on morning during the week of
January 17, 2016 with one person being taken to hospital.
A spokesperson for the local Fire and Rescue Service said they
had received the emergency call shortly after 9 am after a fire broke out in the
car manufacturing section of the plant.
Local Fire and Rescue Service said that all workers at the site
had been evacuated, while four people required medical attention following the
fire.
It is understood that three people received treatment at the
scene for smoke inhalation, while a fourth was taken to hospital with minor
burns.
At 11.22am firefighters believed the fire to be out and were
investigating further to confirm this before leaving the scene.
Four pumping appliances were called to tackle the fire, with the
first three being sent at around 9.15am. A water carrier was also sent and an
aerial appliance was also sent to assist.
The local Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said a fourth
pumping unit had been requested, and this was sent.
At midday the spokesperson said: “They haven’t confirmed that it
is out at present, but they believe it to be out.”
A spokesperson for the local ambulance Service confirmed that one person had
been taken to the local hospital for treatment.
The spokesperson said: "We got the call at 9.15am to
reports of a fire. We had four patients in total, three were checked over at
the scene, but we have taken the fourth into the local Hospital. "Along
with the ambulance at the scene we also had our hazardous area response team
there who supported the firefighters."
A worker at the plant who asked to remain anonymous told the local
news media it was believed the fire had started as a result of a molten metal
spill. The employee, who was in a different area of the plant when the blaze
broke out, said: “Apparently it was an accident during some routine maintenance
and there was a molten aluminium spill, but I’m just going on what I’ve been
told. I did hear the fire wasn’t big, but a liquid metal fire can be a
difficult thing to extinguish, and there is the fumes etc."
The automotive company have so far not issued a comment in
relation to the incident.
Shortly after 1pm, the local Fire and Rescue Service announced
that all of the crews were now leaving the scene as the fire was out. A fire
spokesperson confirmed the fire had involved a die-cast machine in the factory
and was extinguished using on-site extinguishers. “Ten sets of breathing
apparatus were used and a gas meter reading along with a thermal imaging camera
to ensure the fire was out."
The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog prays that the injured worker
recovers fully from his physical and any mental injuries. We commend the
automotive company for quickly and safely evacuating the plant.
The news article does not state the quantity of metal spilled. But
from our experience in diecasting facilities the quantity was quite small
compared to other incidents that have been posted on this blog. Regardless of
the quantity of molten metal that your facility handles you need to have in
your emergency action plan on what to do when (not if!) a molten metal spill
occurs. The APSB has been asked to talk to plant personnel about the topic of
metal spills. In our presentation we always comment about the importance of providing
tours and a conversation with your local fire department on how to handle
molten metal spills. We were taken aback by this incident when it was reported
that “a water carrier” was sent to the fire. It is true that you can place water
upon molten metal and an explosion should not result. But, many in our industry
would rather contain the molten metal spill and allow it to cool without the application
of water.
The Aluminium Times magazine had an article about the importance of
training your local fire departments:
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