Fire and explosion warning from drums

(Baonghean) - A series of tragic accidents involving empty barrels recently is a warning to everyone to be especially careful when handling this type of material.

A week has passed but the people in Hung Dung ward (Vinh city) are still shocked by the accident that happened to Mr. Vuong Van T. The incident happened at around 8:00 a.m. on March 19, at the construction site of a commercial service hotel complex on Le Nin street, invested by Nhu Ngoc Joint Stock Company.

At that time, Mr. T. (a construction worker) was cutting a barrel to make a temporary toilet when the barrel exploded, killing him on the spot. The specific cause of the barrel explosion is still under investigation by the authorities.

Scene of the barrel explosion in Hung Dung ward (Vinh city) that killed Mr. Vuong Van T. on March 19. Photo: Duc Thang

On February 7, a similar incident occurred to a man in Hanoi. This man used a welding machine to cut a barrel to decorate a bus cafe near the Rice City Linh Dam building. While cutting, the barrel suddenly exploded, causing the worker to be thrown far away, his clothes torn, and his body seriously injured.

In Ho Chi Minh City, on January 4, a 60-year-old man also died after cutting open a drum. Previously, in May 2016, a man working as a mechanic in Trung Chinh village, Phuong Trung commune, Thanh Oai district, Hanoi, cut open an empty drum that had been used to store gasoline. Unfortunately, the drum exploded, breaking his leg.

A series of tragic accidents has shocked many people. They never thought that empty barrels could create such a terrible explosion that could be fatal.

Mr. Tran Van Tien - a construction contractor in Vinh city said: We always pay special attention to issues related to labor protection and labor safety. However, we did not expect that direct contact and impact with empty drums could be dangerous, until recent incidents occurred.

According to Colonel Vu Ngoc Due - Chief of Staff, Nghe An Fire Prevention and Fighting Police, empty drums are explosive agents with strong destructive power, especially for drums previously used to store chemicals such as gasoline, oil, paint, pesticides, and solvents.

When used up, there is still a certain amount of chemical left in the barrel, which can be in liquid or gas form. Just contact with heat from welding and cutting sparks, or even just a slight heat from a lighter, will make this gas mixture ready to catch fire and explode. In fact, many people, due to ignorance or subjective thinking, empty barrels are no longer dangerous, so they "carelessly" recycle them.

In many cases, carefully washed drums still do not prevent the danger completely, explosions still occur. The reason is that some chemicals only dissolve in certain solvents, not in water, so these fatal mistakes put themselves at the risk of imminent death.

Empty barrels pose a high risk of explosion. Illustration photo

Therefore, experts recommend that before welding, cutting, or repairing drums, the first thing users must pay special attention to is opening the lid and leaving it for a certain amount of time for the vapor inside to escape, then using appropriate chemicals to clean. For drums that once contained gasoline or oil, you can use PTN-K01, Simple Green Cleaner... soap, or other industrial chemicals to clean; for drums containing paint, you can use 20% sulfuric acid solution to clean.

Next, fill the barrel with water and pour it out to clean all the gas mixture. Only when you are sure that the barrel is completely clean can you weld, cut, and use it. If it cannot be cleaned, it must be destroyed and not reused. Careful use of the barrel will ensure the safety of human life and property, and avoid tragic consequences like the recent series of accidents.

According to the Nghe An Province Fire Prevention and Fighting Police, in the province, explosions related to drums have not occurred commonly. However, all people need to be aware of this danger to have timely prevention and handling methods. Authorities need to integrate the content of preventing drum explosions into the instruction and propaganda program for people to protect their safety and those around them.

Phuong Thao