"Leak.....liquid aluminum injures two workers"

The uncontrolled release of molten metal is a hazard many workplaces do not prepare for. Workplaces should practice with their personnel on what to do if a spill occurs. Here is a recent incident highlighting the hazards of a molten metal link.

Two employees were injured at the (company name omitted) foundry due to a leak in a blast furnace one day during the last week of July. Liquid aluminum had escaped from the leak. It is unclear how the accident could have occurred.

On Wednesday evening, liquid aluminum at a temperature of 800 degrees escaped from a leak in the blast furnace of the foundry at the (aluminium) plant in town name omitted. Two employees were injured, one of them seriously. They suffered smoke inhalation and were treated in hospital. One of them has now been able to leave the clinic again. The other is said to be on the mend.

It is still unclear how the accident could have occurred. The police are now investigating this. Contrary to what the police initially said, the two injured employees did not try to stop the leak. That's not possible, a (company) spokesman told (news media). The incident triggered a major alarm among rescue workers.

More than 10,000 euros in damage

Production in the foundry was temporarily stopped, a company spokesman said. According to initial police estimates, the damage is more than 10,000 euros. There was no significant loss of production.

We pray that the two individual workers recover fully from their injuries. As we recently told a group of workers that fires in our industry tend to generate a lot of smoke very quickly. It is imperative that any combustibles (e.g., wooden pallets, cardboard boxes, etc.) not be stored on the ground. Because, molten metal will ignite any combustible that it comes into contact with.

Lastly, if your workplace processes molten metal it is imperative that your workers are trained, practiced and drilled in how to respond to a molten metal spill.

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