"At least three were killed when a cylinder exploded...."

The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has posted incidents in the past of fires and explosion involving cylinders. The majority of these incidents involve gas cylinders. Why? Because many parts of the world do not have underground gas lines servicing aluminium plants. Instead these plants have gas cylinders to feed their various equipment. The loading, unloading, storage, hook-up of cylinders in aluminium plants is a hazard that many overlook. Here is a recent incident highlighting the hazard of gas cylinders in our plants.

At least three labourers were killed when a cylinder exploded in an aluminum factory in South Asia one day during the week of May 10, 2020 local media reported.

According to details, cylinder explosion occurred at an aluminum factory. The roof of the factory collapsed, burying four labourers under the debris.

Rescue teams reached the spot after being informed and retrieved two dead bodies from the rubble while two other labourers were rescued in injured condition.

The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital where another labourer succumbed to his wounds. The deceased were later identified. The dead bodies were later shifted to a nearby town.

We pray for all of the deceased workers’ families, friends, and coworkers.

Though the news media does not go into any detail on what occurred. We can assume from our past experience that either the connection to a tank or the hose running from the tank leaked. The leaking gas found an ignition source and exploded.

It is recommended that any loading, unloading, hooking  up, disconnecting of gas cyclinders be done as per procedure and by experienced workers. In addition the gas line running from the cylinders to the machinery needs to be protected from physical damage. Long ago when the editors of the Aluminium Plant Safety Blog worked in a factory that had portable gas cylinders we would protect the gas lines with a section of steel channel.

We will update this story as information comes forth.

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