STRANGE EXPLOSION AT IRON WORKS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3308, 31 March 1926, Page 9

STRANGE EXPLOSION AT IRON WORKS

Five Men Sprayed Wiili Molten Zinc SHIRTS BURNT TO RIBBONS BY METAL [Pci* Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Last Night. Five men were severely burned about the face and arms at the corrugated iron works of Samuel Parker, Ltd., at Mechanics’ Day, shortly after 11 o’clock this morning. The accident was caused through an Iron cyclinder, In which they were engaged in galvanising, exploding just as It was being lifted out of the container in which there were molten zinc and sal ammoniac. Within a few minutes of the mishap, the men were on their way to hospital, whore their painful injuries were immediately attended. The names and addresses of the injured men are as follow: — C. Wheeler, St Mary’s road, Ponsonby, severe burns to face and arms and left eye damaged. P. Horn, Manukau road, Newmarket, burns to face and arms. G. Soares, Wellington street, City, burns to face and arms. p .C. Willetts, Dunbar road, Mt Eden, slight burns to face and arms. Wheeler, Horne, Beeohy and Soares were admitted to hospital, while Willetts, after receiving attention, was able to proceed to his home. Several other employees who were In the vicinity at the time received minor burns from flying molten metal. No one could account for the accident this morning. Workmen have done similar jobs of greater magnitude on scores of occasions previously. The cylinder which exploded was of the ordinary type used for containing petrol on motor waggons and buses. It had been closed at both ends and soldered, preparatory to being placed in the molten zinc and sal ammoniac bath, for the purpose of being galvanised. When the cylinder, or tank, was being lifted out of the molten lead and was half-way up, the explosion occurred, throwing showers in 'every direction, even up to a distance of 25 feet away. Molten zinc causes a most painful burn and when sal ammoniac is added, the pain caused is much more excruciating.

G. Graydon, who received minor burns about the arms, stated that he was standing: beside the bath which contained the molten zinc and sal ammoniac and the remainder of the men were stationed at various positions around the bath. All were assisting to haul the cyclinder from the bath. The cylinder was blown from the ropes that hold it and struck Graydon, . who was knocked back into a tub of sawdust, with his arms burnt by the molten zinc. The remainder of the men were showered with zinc, which caused their clothing and hair to ignite. One man's hair, said Graydon, was alight and when his mate endeavoured to extinguish it with his hat, that too then ignited. The shirts worn by men taken to hospital were burnt to ribbons and gave an Idea of the extent and the nature of the injuries received by these men. Other men, who were in the vicinity, stated that hundreds of cylinders with smaller holes than those in the cylinder that exploded had been dipped, without mishap.