All plants who handle molten
metal have to be prepared for a spill. Why because a molten metal spill will
occur. If the workers are not properly trained and drilled on how to handle a
spill issues will result. Preparation is the key to preventing a small issue
from growing to a large issue. The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has posted
incidents where 20 kg of material resulted in a large factory burning down. Not
more than 50 kg resulted in one of the largest insurance claims filed in our
industry (over $100 million USD). Here is a recent incident emphasizing the dangers
of molten metal spills.
Around half a
ton of liquid aluminum leaked from a melting pot at a company in Germany one morning
during the first week in August, 2021 due to a defect. The hot metal
produced a lot of smoke and a high risk of fire in the building. The
emergency services carefully cooled the liquid mass so that it solidified and
smoked the hall. One of the employees had to be hospitalized with suspected
smoke inhalation. In addition to the fire brigade, the fire brigade, the
volunteer fire brigade, and two nearby towns’ fire departments were in action .
We pray that the injured worker
recovers fully from their injuries. Molten metal spills are one the most frequented
requests we get to speak to workers about. The importance of training and
drills can not be understated.
Prior to the pandemic we
would tour dozens of plants. We would ask if a molten metal spill would occur.
Where will it occur and where will the metal flow. Where the metal flows is
very important. If electrical equipment is where the molten metal will flow.
Then problems arise. All too often we will be told of a molten metal spill that
flowed into an area and damaged electrical wiring communications, hydraulic
lines, etc.
How the spill came about in this incident was not fully detailed in the fire department report. But, we would assume that a crucible similar to the ones in the photo suffered a lining failure and cracked.
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