Explosion in an Metallic Products Plant
Five barrels of aluminum dust that had been removed from an outdoor dust collector were sealed and stored in the plant adjacent to electrical panels. One of them had somehow been contaminated with water, which exothermically reacted with the aluminum dust to form hydrogen gas. The top of the barrel deformed and glowed red. Smoke was observed and an employee sounded a vocal alarm. The lid blew off the barrel and the mushroom cloud of aluminum dust exploded in a fireball. Nearby combustible material ignited and the sprinkler system activated. The closest employee, sustained second-degree burns of the arm and neck and went to the emergency room for treatment. Due to the warning, there were no other serious injuries.
Event Date
December 2, 1993
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Cause Comments
The barrel of aluminum dust outdoor dust collector was contaminated with water and produced hydrogen.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
aluminum powder, dust collector, barrels
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Pre-event Summary
Five barrels of aluminum dust that had been removed from an outdoor dust collector were sealed and stored in the plant adjacent to electrical panels. One had somehow been contaminated with water, which exothermically reacted with the aluminum dust to form hydrogen gas.
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
Unknown
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Inspection no. 119577575
https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=119577…
(accessed November 2020)