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17/01/2008
News Item WorkCover safety warning on cutting empty metal drums In the wake of a massive explosion at a Hunter Valley wine company this morning, it seems timely that WorkCover has issued a safety warning on cutting empty metal drums. While it is still uncertain what caused the wine company explosion, WorkCover NSW acting chief executive officer, John Watson, said a recent explosion which seriously injured a 17 year old apprentice boilermaker was caused by the cutting of a metal drum with an angle grinder. ”WorkCover is investigating this unfortunate incident, in which it appears that sparks from the angle grinder ignited residue vapours from thinners which had been previously storied in the drum,“ Mr Watson said. ”The risks associated with cutting empty drums have been known and widely publicised for some years with a number of workers having been killed or seriously injured carrying out this activity. ”This is an extremely dangerous procedure unless the proper safeguards are followed.“ The safeguards include: • Ascertaining what was previously stored in the drum to identify hazardous materials • Removing the bungs from the drum to allow vapours to escape • Filling the drum with water and detergent to ensure all traces of previously stored liquid or solid chemicals are washed out and • Not attempting to cut or weld the drum inside a workshop or other confined space. Mr Watson gave two examples of the destructive force that can be unleashed if proper safety procedures are not followed. "In 2006, a 21 year old apprentice suffered burns and temporary hearing loss when an empty 205 litre oil drum he was cutting with an oxy-acetylene torch exploded. ”The force of the explosion blasted the lid off the drum into the corrugated iron workshop ceiling 12 metres above, smashing a hole and scattering burning droplets of oil from the blazing drum into the paddock outside, which caught fire. ”In another incident, a 63 year old farmer lost both his legs as a result of an oil drum explosion." Mr Watson concluded, ”A number of safety alerts on cutting empty drums have been issued by WorkCover NSW and other state workplace authorities following similar incidents. ”The WorkCover NSW 2003 Safety Alert warns that drums which once contained flammable liquids should be handled with extreme care as they may contain vapours, even after many years." source: http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news_daily.asp?ag_id=47972 |
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