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British owned Tennessee plant where five workers died found rife with dangers
US
Five workers have been killed and three others injured at the Hoeganaes Corp. plant since late January. The accidents account for all but one of the six dust-related fatalities across the country in 2011....... Hoeganaes is a subsidiary of British-based multinational firm GKN, and has other plants in Germany, China, and Romania. GKN has annual revenues upwards of $7 billion. ...Every day, across the US, workers are injured and killed in entirely preventable accidents...We see the too familiar statements from the CSB about basic Preventative maintenance which does not require a detailed knowledge of Fire and Explosions hazards!! Layers greater than the thickness of a dime can cause dust explosions in plant and buildings..especially on horizontal surfaces.and definitely not near ignition sources or personnel. exposed wiring is unacceptable in all circumstances...corroded pipe especially in gas lines is criminal neglect.
The CSB report on the Hoeganaes plant reviewed a string of accidents in the early months of 2011. On January 31, two maintenance mechanics were severely burned after a thick layer of iron powder on the flat surfaces of a bucket elevator ignited. The elevator’s dust collection system was out of service. CSB investigators found that the elevator’s motor had exposed wiring and was not properly grounded. One of the victims died February 2; the other remained hospitalized for months before dying of his burns in May.
Less than two months later, on March 29, a flash fire erupted on flat surfaces above a furnace, injuring one worker. Inspectors found the presence of large quantities of settled dust above the furnace, and hanging dust clouds next to an open-flamed furnace along with several ignition sources nearby.
Two months after that accident, on May 27, a hydrogen explosion and secondary dust fire claimed the lives of three workers and critically injured two others.
The CSB found a hydrogen leak was caused by corroded piping that had long been neglected. Hydrogen is used in the furnace processing to remove oxygen from the iron. This is delivered to the furnaces through underground pipes connecting to an adjacent facility.
19 December 2011 11:52
