"explosion at extrusion plant...."

The importance of referring to existing plant drawings or blueprints before performing maintenance cannot be understated. A number of years ago we were touring a casthouse when maintenance workers were working on ventilation duct. The lining inside the duct ignited when a torch was used to make an opening. If they had referred to the original drawings they may have seen that the duct was lined. Here is a recent story emphasizing the need to look at any possible blueprints performing starting a maintenance project:

Here was the first news article:

A local business was evacuated one night during the week of July 22, 2018 following an explosion there.

Around 10:30 p.m., local Police and the local fire department responded to the explosion at an aluminium extrusion plant in the Midwest USA. One person was hurt, their injuries described as non-life-threatening burns.

The plant suffered minor damage. The cause of the explosion has not been released.

Here is the latest news article:

A worker at (an aluminium extrusion plant) received electrical burns to his arm after drilling into an underground electrical wire one night around 10:23 p.m. during the week of July 22, 2018, according to the local fire department.

According to the Fire Chief, no other injuries or damage to the business were reported from the incident.

We pray that the injured worker recovers fully from his injuries.

The news media article provides little information other than “drilling into an underground electrical wire”. We did notice in another news article that this extrusion company moved into an existing building five years ago. Which could lead one to make the assumption that the worker was unaware that there was electrical wires where he was drilling. Regardless, a worker was injured we hope he recovers fully.

We hope that the reader will take this article back to their facility and ask “do we know where all of the buried electrical lines are?” If not, what can you do to ensure this incident never occurs at your plant?

Please comment.