CHEMICALS EXPLODE

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1926, Page 3

CHEMICALS EXPLODE

MANY WORKFHS INJURED

fur TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATES

AUCKI7ANJ), March 30. m An iron cylinder, containing chemicals, exploded at tho ironworks of S. Parker, Ltd. Five men were removed to tho hospital, while others sustained minor injuries. The men in the hsopital are:— • C. Wheeler, severe burns on the face and arms, and his left eye injured. Horne, burns on the face and arms. * (!. Soares, burns on tho face and arms. F. C. Willets, slight burns on the face and arms.

SHOWERS OF MOLTEN ZINC. AUCKLAND, March 30. A strange* quiet pervaded the atmospliere of tiie works which n few minutes before had resounded to the whirring of machinery and the dunging of metal. G. Craydon, who received minor burns about the arms, stated that he was standing beside the zinc bath which contained molten zinc and salammoniac. The remainder of the men wero stationed at various positions '• around the bath, and they all were tistasting to haul the iron cylinder lrom the hath. The cylinder was blown from the ropes that held it, and it struck Graydon who was knocked hack into a tub of sawdust, with his arms burnt bv tho molten zinc. 'The remainder of the men were showered with zinc, which caused their clothing and hair to ignite. One mail’s hair, said Graydon, was alight, and when his mate endeavoured to extinguish it with his hat, the hat, too, ignited. The shirts worn by tile men taken to the hospital were burnt to ribbons. Within a, few minutes of the mishap the live injured men were on their way to the hospital, where their painful injuries were immediately attended to. Messrs Wheeler, Horne, Beechey, and Soares wero admitted to the hospital, while Willetts, after receiving attention, was able to proceed to his home. Several other employees who were m the vicinity at the time received minor burns from the flying molten metal. No one could account for the accident this morning. The workmen have done similar jobs of greater magnitude on scores of occasions previously. Die cylinder which exploded was of the ordinary type used for containing potiol on motor wagons and buses It had • been closed at both, ends and soldered *' ■ preparatory to being placed hi 10 molten zinc and snlninomae hatb. m the purpose of being galvanised. When the cylinder or tank was being dt(d out of the molten metal bath, and was half-wav up, the explosion occurred, throwing showers in every direction, even up to a distance of 2o Let awa\. Molten zinc itself causes a most painful burn, but when salainmoiiiac is added. the pain caused is much more excruciating. „