Everytime we read about a dumpster fire fueled by aluminium
shavings, grindings, fines, etc. in our industry we expect to read about an
explosion that results from when firemen unknowingly place water upon the
flames to extinguish it. The expectation is based on the numerous incidents
where a dumpster fire resulted in the injury or death of a fireman. Gladly this
recent story has a happy ending. Here it is:
A
dumpster that caught fire Thursday, June 29, 2017 in the morning created a lot
of stir in the state of New York in the USA. .
According
to officials, around 9:45 a.m. two fire departments responded to a chemical
fire in a dumpster. The dumpster is owned by an aluminium foundry, the business
next door to a titanium machine company. The machine company was not involved
in the incident.
The
County Haz-Mat was called to the scene. An aluminum powder had caught fire in
the dumpster. Haz-Mat used a special agent to put the fire out.
Because
it was a chemical fire, a reverse- 911 call was sent out to neighbors, advising
them to remain indoors until the fire was completely out.
There
were no injuries reported. Haz-Mat considered the incident “minor” in nature,
however all volunteers who responded had to be checked out because of the
chemical involved.
We are ecstatic that the fire departments were prepared and knew
what to do in this incident. Why? Because we are haunted by the photos of the
aftermaths, the deceased fire fighters’ names, their photos, etc. of the
numerous times where a fire department was unfamiliar with the hazards in our
plants and an incident occurred. We cannot forget them. Just as we cannot
forget every incident that we post. On a recent visit to an aluminium plant. We
observed an older piece of machinery without the proper safety mechanisms
installed. At the exit meeting we mentioned this observation to plant
management. We received the response “well how often does someone get hurt by
that?”. We then went into detail how over the past 6 months two separate
incidents. One involving a fatality, and another involving an arm being ripped
off a worker because of a similar circumstance involving the same machinery.
Back to this story, we feel that all injuries and fatalities are
sad. But, a death of a fire fighter responding to one of our plants is simply
horrible. Because every fireman who dies, dies primarily because of a lack of
knowledge. On our travels we talk about the importance of training your local
fire department(s) to the hazards in your plants, and how to deal with them if
an incident occurs.
The Aluminium Times Magazine had an article about aluminium
companies being proactive and training their local fire departments.
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