"uncontrolled aluminum liquid flooding into a cast well" 3 dead

In an ideal world companies would install proper safety mechanisms or engineering controls to mitigate hazards. But, we do not live in an ideal world. Some companies do not have engineering controls or they forgo the industry’s best practices. Why? There are a myriad of reasons why companies do not install mechanisms or engineering controls. Most common reason is either a lack of awareness or knowledge. This is an honest mistake that gets remedied when companies are made aware of their shortcomings. Unfortunately, many times a company is made aware of their shortcomings only after an incident occurs. There is one other reason why companies do not install engineering controls or follow best practices is because the company does not want to spend the funds. It is this reason that disappoints us. Because in many instances workers’ injuries and deaths could have been easily prevented if the company chose to. It is these companies that talking about the importance of safety is fruitless. The only way to reach these companies is to talk about the financial cost of production shutdowns.

Here is an incident involving a molten metal explosion:

According to the local municipal government, at 0:00 (one day during the week of April 1, 2018), an explosion accident occurred at an aluminium company in Asia. After the accident, emergency plans were quickly initiated at the surrounding cities, and the main leaders and related departments rushed to the scene to dispose of them. At present, 3 people were killed by the explosion and 3 were hospitalized with minor injuries.

"At the time, when I was blown up, I was hit on the ground and there was a brief tinnitus. I just crawled out." A worker who escaped from the scene of the accident told the reporter at the time of the incident that “the factory area was black and white”.

At the same time, the surrounding villages of the company have been affected by explosions. Glass, windows, and gates of some residents’ homes have been damaged. At present, the locality is in the process of statistics on damage to surrounding houses and injuries to the villagers. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

After investigation, the accident was due to the company's uncontrollable flow of molten aluminum into the casting well during the aluminum rod casting process, resulting in an explosion.

After the accident, the leaders of the providence and nearby city attached great importance to it. The first time they visited the site and they set up on-site rescue and other five working groups to carry out the disposal. At present, various tasks such as the aftermath of the accident are in progress.

We pray for the deceased worker’s families, friends, and coworkers. We hope that the injured workers recover fully from their injuries.

We apologize if the introduction to this post had a negative tone. We simply get frustrated when incidents like this occur. Our sources have told us that the company chose not to use a safety pit coating on the casting tool nor the casting well (pit) walls. The Aluminium Association’s has approved only three (3) Wise Chem E-212-F, Wise Chem E-115, and Carboline 955CP.

Reports are that the company was operating a high water pit at the time of explosion. Maybe the company believed that high water pit was safer than a low water pit. If they did, their assumption was wrong, deadly wrong. Explosions can occur with highwater pits. In many instances high water pit explosions or more severe than low water pit explosions. Why? Because when an explosion occurs with a high water pit the explosion is closer to the factory floor versus a low water pit where the explosion would be below ground. Regardless, the Aluminium Plant Safety Blog recommends Wise Chem coatings for prevention of molten metal explosions.

The Aluminium Times had an article about this hazard recently. It can be downloaded here.

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