SODIUM IGNITES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 30, Issue 9, 7 December 1945, Page 3

SODIUM IGNITES

RECENT COUNTY ACCIDENT ENGI NIiKU'S REPORT In his official report covering the fatality which occurred as a result oi' a npmber of sodium sacks igniting on the rear of a County the County Engineer, Mr C. H. Brebner reported to the last County Council meeting as under: — 1 regret to have to report a fatal accident which occurred on Friday the 9th November to a member of the Whakatane Ragwort Gang. A truck containing six men, including Driver Finucane j was proceeding to Whakatane after the day's work when an explosion and ii*e took place. Three men were riding on the back of the truck \\ hich «ilsO contained a number of empty sacks. One of these men "Rore" was iatally injured a .second seriously injured and the third received minor injuries. One of the men who jumped from the cab of the truck before it was pulled up also received minor injuries. I immediately issued ordeis that all work on the ragwort be suspended until an enquiry could be held. The Insurance Company and the police.Avcre notified and the following letter was sent to the Agricultural Department:*— "1 have to report a fatal accident which occurred to a workman when returning to Whakatane in a County truck from ragwort eradication on the 9th November 1945.. A second man is in a critical condition and two others lesser injuries. The de r j ceased and the -bailly injured man f together with a third man, were rid r ing on the back of the truc'ic "which also contained some 110 empty sacks which had that day contained sodium chlorate and a tiller. As you are aware this Council decided this ragwort season to use a tine pumice sand as a filler instead, of lime. When the. truck was some lour miles from Whakatane the empty sacks, ignited with the result that the men in the back of the truck were severely burned before fchey could jump clear. "As far as can be ascertained the men were not smoking. The day was very hot and the driver of the truck who was in charge of the mcn > states that the sacks were dry and hot when loaded into the truck arid that this was the first occasion lie had noticed them dry as the pumice sand liiler appeared to have a moistening affect. "I have suspended work upon the ragwort until a complete investigation is held to determine the cause of the fire. St would appear desh able that the investigation be carried out by a technical officer of vour or some other Government Department. My Chairman is anxious that this unfortunate accident be thoroughly investigated at the earlr iest possible moment by actual tests of the materials that have been in use. Would you please take this matter up with your Head Office as early as possible, and advise me of their decision." When in Auckland last week 1 called upon the Chief Inspector of the Agricultural Department and discussed the matter fully with him and his Assistant. He endorsed the action I had taken and instructed me to suspend work until his Head Office in Wellington had decided what action they would take. I have since carried out experiments with the materials the men were using and am satisfied what led up to the explosion and what j actually caused the explosion. j i