"As a result of insulation breakdown during the anode effect..."

 

On one memorial visit to a smelter it was requested that we speak to every department. That started a journey of speaking to potline departments. We have loved learning about a department that in the past we walked thru or drove by.  Here is a recent incident highlighting the hazards in a potline.

In Russia, on the night of April 14-15, an emergency occurred at a large enterprise. According to the deputy governor of area for industry, transport and ecology, there was a fire in building No. 10 of the aluminium smelter plant. He shared photos and videos from the scene on his official Instagram account.

The fire was quickly extinguished. No one was injured or killed. The equipment was taken out for repair. The enterprise is operating normally, - added the deputy governor of area for industry, transport and ecology.

The press service of the company confirmed this information to the correspondent of local news media. We were also told about the reason for the emergency.

“As a result of insulation breakdown during the anode effect, a deviation from the established mode of the technological process occurred in the electrolyzer,” the press service of aluminium company said.

We are ecstatic that no one was injured in this incident. This is an incident that potline workers train for. The importance of following your training and not skipping steps is understood by the potline workers. Why? Because if potline workers fail to follow their training or skip steps the result may be in their own death or the death of a coworker(s).

We also have to commend the aluminium company for immediately reaching out to the news media. When companies fail to reach out to news media or do not make comment, they allow the news media to make assumptions. Almost always the assumptions news media make is incorrect. When companies fail to comment the incorrect assumptions, overtime are considered fact.

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