"a male was taken to a (local) hospital with smoke inhalation."

The use of hydraulic fluid in our plants is universal. No matter the specific type of aluminium plant there is, hydraulic fluid is used. Here is a story involving the hazard of flammable hydraulic oil.

A man was taken to hospital after a fire broke out a factory today. The fire service was called to the aluminium plant in Europe shortly after 1.20 a m one morning during the week of April 12, 2019.

Two engines from nearby towns and an aerial ladder platform (ALP) from a nearby city were called to the scene. A local Fire and Rescue Service called the local Ambulance Service at around 3am and a man was taken a nearby hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The blaze was extinguished by about 4:00 but it caused 500sq meters of fire damage to the building and 1,000 sq meters smoke and heat damage, the fire service said.

A fire department spokeswoman said: "We were callled at 1.22am to a fire at (aluminium plant).

"Three appliances were sent - two fire engines from (local towns)- and an ALP from (nearby city).

"A main jet, two hose reels and 10 breathing apparatus were used.

"A casualty was taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation."

A local fire department spokeswoman said: "We were called by the fire service at 2.59 am and a male was taken to a (local) hospital with smoke inhalation."

An investigation into the cause was launched and it was found to be accidental involving hydraulic oil.

We pray that the individual worker recovers fully from his injury. We are thankful that no one else was injured.

The topic of flammable hydraulic oil has been posted before on the Aluminium Plant Safety Blog. In many cases it is a hidden hazard waiting to be found only after an incident occurred. We have been so concerned about this specific topic that an article will be published soon in the Aluminium Times about this topic.

Does your plant have flammable hydraulic fluid ? If you do not know, ask your maintenance department. If you do, why? When an incident occurs we have seen that the ramifications of a hydraulic fluid fire can have serious consequences.

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