Date: November 21, 2018
Location: Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Address: Hülserstraße 810, 47803
Type: Potential Dust Explosion
Fuel: Steel Dust
Industry: Steelworking
Equipment: Melting Furnace
Company: Schmolz and Bickenbach
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: Seven Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Schmolz and Bickenbach is a leading manufacturer in the field of steel and stainless steel casting. The materials it works with range from non-alloy to low alloy and high-alloy up to nickel- and cobalt-based alloys as well as special materials.
Schmolz and Bickenbach was established in 1919, is headquartered in Switzerland, and currently employs 8,894 people across its various locations.
Incident Description:
On November 21, 2018, WDR reported an explosion at a steelworks facility in Krefeld, Germany.
The incident occurred in one of the melting furnaces, which was in operation and contained liquid steel. Plant employees immediately shut down the other furnaces and evacuated, but out of 40 workers present, seven were injured, two of them seriously. According to Westdeutsche Zeitung, one person suffered from severe burns and 21 employees were examined by ambulance attendants as a precaution.
One employee told journalists that everyone heard a loud bang. “Then we all just ran,” he said.
When the fire crews arrived, they found the roof of the 3,000-square-meter workshop on fire. Water from their hoses brought down the dust raised by the explosion. A fire department representative told RP Online that after bringing the dust under control, the firefighters focused on extinguishing the flames on the roof.
The dark cloud of smoke that billowed over the area was visible from afar. The hall with the affected furnace was covered with bitumen, which had caught fire and caused a pungent odour. As a precaution, the city of Krefeld sent out an alert requesting those living in the vicinity of the plant to keep their doors and windows closed. The fire department later confirmed that no toxic substances were released.
The cause of the explosion and amount of property damage are presently unclear. According to the preliminary estimates, the damage was limited.
Sources:
WDR
Westdeutsche Zeitung
RP Online
