Date: March 17, 2023
Location: Greenville, Michigan (USA)
Address: Dicastal Drive, 48838
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Aluminum Dust
Industry: Aluminum Alloy Wheel Manufacturer (Automotive)
Equipment: Grinder
Company: Dicastal Inc.
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: One Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, Dicastal Inc. is an aluminum alloy wheel manufacturer headquartered in China. Dicastal operates several manufacturing plants and research centers in China, Europe, and North America and supplies aluminum alloy wheels to various automakers around the world. The company was founded in 2002 and has since become one of the leading suppliers of aluminum wheels in the automotive industry.
Incident Description:
On March 23, 2023, the Detroit Free Press reported an explosion at an aluminum alloy wheel manufacturer in Greenville, Michigan.
After receiving word of the explosion on March 17, firefighters from three departments extinguished the flames with dry chemical powder extinguishers.
According to the Greenville Department of Public Safety Fire Investigation Unit, an employee was using the hand grinder for maintenance work in the foundry area when sparks ignited aluminum dust in the vicinity, causing the explosion.
An injured employee is recovering in the hospital, and the damage was contained to the foundry area.
Officials from Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) have been notified.
OSHA Inspections:
An establishment search turned up four OSHA inspections for Dicastal Inc. in Greenville, Michigan, but they were not flagged for combustible dust.
Sources:
Detroit Free Press
