All sorts of chemicals are used in our plants for a myriad of uses.
The proper storage and use of the chemicals in our industry is mitigated on a
daily basis. Here is a recent incident that emphasizes the need to inspect
piping carrying chemicals. Here is the story:
Because
a pipe had a leak, an aluminum producer in Europe one day during the month of
January 2020 leaked around 50 liters of low-concentration sulfuric acid. Three
employees were slightly injured.
According
to the fire department, they inhaled some of the chemical in the incident, but
were able to return to the factory after a check-up visit to the hospital.
The
three percent sulfuric acid is used for cleaning, said a press spokesman for
the plant. How it came to the pipe leak in the basement of the company is
unclear.
The
factory fire brigade had alerted the municipal fire brigade and there was a
large-scale deployment, since the emergency services initially assumed the much
dangerous hydrofluoric acid. Summoned specialists were able to dispel the
suspicion by means of a test.
We pray that the injured workers will have no long term health
consequences for their inhalation of the sulfuric acid fumes.
We hope that the entire length of piping carrying sulfuric acid in
this plant is inspected. For the reader, we recommend asking your maintenance
department about piping that contains chemicals. When they were last inspected?
If the maintenance department cannot answer that question. It should be
inspected as soon as possible.
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