| Case Name |
Fire of paint caused due to poor earthing at a paint booth of an automobile factory |
| Pictograph |
|
| Date |
November 11, 1989 |
| Place |
Minato, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |
| Location |
Automobile factory |
| Overview |
The equipment was no longer properly connected with earthing when the grating (a metallic drainboard) at the lower part of the automatic electrostatic coating machine was moved. This was not found because nobody checked before operation restarted. Therefore, static electricity accumulated in the grating. A static electricity spark was generated when painting with the automatic electrostatic coating machine restarted, might ignited the vapor of the painting material. The fire was extinguished after about two hours. |
| Incident |
The grating (a metal drainboard) at the lower part of an automatic electrostatic coating machine was moved for the sake of convenience. At the time, the earthing became defective, and static electricity accumulated in the grating. Painting with the automatic electrostatic coating machine restarted, and the paint booth caught fire. The fire was extinguished after two hours. |
| Processing |
Consumption and usage |
| Individual Process |
Others |
| Substance |
Paint |
| Type of Accident |
Fire |
| Sequence |
1. The grating under the coating machine was moved when the workshop was remodeled in an automatic electrostatic coating factory.
2. Electrostatic painting with the automatic coating machine restarted.
3. A fire broke out at the spray gun. The paint booth caught fire and was destroyed. |
| Cause |
1. The earthing became defective when the grating was moved. Painting started with a defective earthing, because nobody noticed it since nobody checked the earthing after moving the grating.
2. Therefore, static electricity was charged in a part of the coating machine, and it ignited painting material vapor.
3. The workers at the coating machine did not understand that the oily paint they were handling contains dangerous materials or combustibles such as toluene. Therefore, it seems that they did not check and confirm the earthing before restarting operation after remodeling. |
| Countermeasures |
1. Equipment should be properly connected with earthing (equipment management).
2. Working environment should be improved (fire prevention management).
3. Generation of hazardous vapor during coating operation must be reduced. |
| Knowledge Comment |
Oily paint is composed of a light organic solvent with pigments and adhesive, etc. Therefore, the same level of facilities and methods as handling a light organic solvent are necessary. |
| Background |
1. Workers did not understand why the earthing was required.
2. The danger of painting containing dangerous materials was not understood.
3. It is also speculated that there was insufficient education and training on handling dangerous materials and on the danger of static electricity. Besides, the side of managers lacked the awareness of handling dangerous materials and was indifferent to dangerous materials. |
| Incidental Discussion |
Fire-fighting operation was prevented because products etc. Were left in the open space in the site. Although things are often left in the open spaces, the fire prevention manager should have a consciousness of fire prevention. |
| Reason for Adding to DB |
Example of fire caused due to lack of earthing after remodeling |
| Scenario |
| Primary Scenario
|
Organizational Problems, Poor Management, Insufficient Work Management, Poor Value Perception, Poor Safety Awareness, Insuficient Education/Training for Safety, Carelessness, Insufficient Understanding, Insufficient Recognition of Risk, Usage, Operation/Use, Usage of Equipment/Material, Non-Regular Action, Change, Remodeling of Work Space, Bad Event, Electrical Failure, Isolation, Secondary Damage, External Damage, Fire, Loss to Organization, Economic Loss, Direct Monetary Damage 220 million yen
|
|
| Sources |
Fire and Disaster Management Agency, Case of major accident, Fire at paint booth in automobile factory. Accident cases of dangerous materials. pp.36, 294-295.
|
| Physical Damage |
180 square meters of a building of 225 square meters was destroyed by fire where a top coating booth was located. Eight vehicles and booth peripheral equipment were partially destroyed by fire. Coating materials, thinner burned. |
| Financial Cost |
¥ 222 million. (Accident cases of dangerous materials) |
| Field |
Chemicals and Plants
|
| Author |
KOSEKI, Hirosi (National Research Institute of Fire and Disaster)
TAMURA, Masamitsu (Center for Risk Management and Safety Sciences, Yokohama National University)
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