| Case Name |
Spontaneous ignition of fireworks including potassium chlorate |
| Pictograph |
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| Date |
June 13, 1943 |
| Place |
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Location |
Explosive factory |
| Overview |
Half-finished goods of yellow colored fire compositions that were in storage ignited spontaneously, and deflagrated with green colored fire compositions which were accumulated in the same storage house . It is assumed that a mixture of potassium chlorate and a basic dye of auramine absorbed moisture and ignited spontaneously |
| Incident |
White smoke was generated in a storage house which stored half-finished goods of green and yellow colored fire compositions, and stored materials deflagrated. |
| Processing |
Storage |
| Substance |
Potassium chlorate, Fig2 |
| Auramine, Fig3 |
| Type of Accident |
Explosion, fire |
| Sequence |
White smoke was generated in a storage house where half-finished goods of green and yellow colored fire compositions were temporarily stored and they deflagrated. Six days later, white smoke was generated in another storage house, and there, a box of squeezed yellow colored fire compositions was burning. |
| Cause |
It is assumed that a mixture of potassium chlorate and a basic dye of auramine ignited spontaneously by absorbing moisture. |
| Countermeasures |
1. Potassium chlorate is changed to potassium perchlorate. A basic dye of auramine should not be used.
2. Measures are taken to prevent moisture absorption of products and half-finished goods. |
| Knowledge Comment |
1. It is forbidden to use excessively hazardous materials.
2. The storage management of the materials with the hazard of spontaneous ignition .requires carefulness. |
| Background |
1. Potassium chlorate which is an oxidizing agent with high risk of ignition was used. A study on the ignition hazard was insufficient.
2. Management of storage of products and half-finished goods was inappropriate. |
| Incidental Discussion |
This case is adopted as a fire accident because basics of operation were not followed, though it is a very old example of 1943. |
| Reason for Adding to DB |
Example of spontaneous ignition caused due to thoughtless storage of half-finished goods |
| Scenario |
| Primary Scenario
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Poor Value Perception, Poor Safety Awareness, Inadequate Risk Recognition, Insufficient Analysis or Research, Insufficient Prior Research, Insufficient Study of Potasium Salt Ignition Danger, Ignorance, Insufficient Knowledge, Insufficient Experience, Planning and Design, Poor Planning, Poor Storaging Planning, Usage, Transport/Storage, Unprope Storage Condition, Bad Event, Chemical Phenomenon, Spontaneous Ignition, Secondary Damage, External Damage, Explosion/Fire
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| Sources |
Japan Assoc. of Fire Science and Engineering, chemistry fire committee, D.36.2 Potassium chlorate. Case 248, Chemistry fire examples (2), pp.132-133 (1974).
Masamitsu Tamura, Wakakurs Masahide, Spontaneous ignition of yellow smoke compositions. The reaction danger - Accident case and analysis - , p.116 (1995).
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| Multimedia Files |
Fig2.Chemical formula
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Fig3.Chemical formula
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| Field |
Chemicals and Plants
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| Author |
OGAWA, Terushige (Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University)
TAMURA, Masamitsu (Center for Risk Management and Safety Sciences, Yokohama National University)
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