"external vacuum cleaner catches fire and a fire breaks out...."

The use of outside contractors to vacuum inside our workplaces is commonplace. Sometimes contractors bring specialized vacuum trucks. This recent incident highlights the hazards associated with vacuum trucks.

Fire in a company, intoxicated worker: He tried to put out the flames

To catch fire the external vacuum cleaner of an aluminum mold company. Intervention of the fire brigade for the risks of explosion. In the hospital for investigations a 45-year-old who has breathed smoke (it is not serious)

An external vacuum cleaner catches fire and a fire breaks out, a worker remains (smoke inhalation) in an attempt to put out the flames (brought to the hospital for investigations). A large fire developed this morning outside an aluminum mold company in (location name omitted), in the industrial area of (location name omitted). It was about 8.20 when the vacuum cleaner, which is outside the factory, caught fire.

One of the workers of the company, a 45-year-old man from (location name omitted), tried to contain the flames using the fire extinguishers supplied to the company, but only the intervention of the fire brigade allowed to solve, without danger, the situation. Two vehicles arrived from the (local fire department), with supporting (fire department 20 km away).

The fire was particularly difficult because it is not possible to extinguish the aluminum directly with water so as not to risk an explosion, so the firefighters first cooled the aspirator outside and then proceed to contain the flames until the burned material was extinguished inside and which is composed mostly of aluminum dust and sawdust.

The employees who tried to extinguish the flames, using the fire extinguishers, was first rescued with oxygen by the fire brigade and then taken to the emergency room of (nearby town) for investigations, it is not serious.

The inspectors of the (of the government) intervened on the spot. The causes of the fire are examined: in the vacuum cleaner.

We pray that the injured worker recovers fully from their injuries. We have reported on numerous fires and explosions from either small portable vacuum cleaners to large truck carried vacuums. What most commonly occurs with a truck carried vacuums is they suck something that generates a spark. That spark either ignites dust accumulation in the piping or that is in a cloud. We have reported on numerous incidents of a spark resulting in a vacuum truck exploding. Then the truck sends back a fire ball through the vacuum hosing which can injure and kill workers.

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