Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Molten Aluminium Spill Kill 14

Safety first!

Human error blamed for molten aluminium spill in China

Workers' negligence has been blamed for the molten aluminium spill that killed 14 and injured 59 others at a factory in east China's Shandong Province on Sunday, the provincial work safety watchdog has said.

The inner lining of an aluminium container at the factory in Zouping county fell off because it was mishandled by workers, which led to the spillage of aluminium at a temperature of 900 degrees Celsius, the Shandong Provincial Work Safety Bureau said.

Only three injured workers have been discharged from hospital so far, Xinhua news agency reported.

Four months ago, 32 workers were killed and six others injured at a steel plant in Liaoning Province when a ladle transporting molten steel broke.