Date: March 25, 2018
Location: Weymouth, Massachusetts (USA)
Address: 45 Finnell Drive, 02188
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Cocoa Dust
Industry: Powdered Food Production
Equipment: Compressor
Company: Brady Enterprises
Previous Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: 1 Firefighter Injured
Capital Cost: $300,000
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company’s website, Brady Enterprises are the preferred producer of powdered foods for a variety of companies including Fortune 500 brands. The company began in 1964 and employs 300 individuals nationwide, including 240 at the Finnell Drive facility.
Description of Cocoa Dust Fire:
According to The Boston Globe, firefighters responded to a cocoa dust fire at a major powdered food manufacturing plant in Weymouth, Massachusetts on March 25, 2018. Firefighters arrived at Brady Enterprises at approximately 5:30 pm and found heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof line of the factory and took approximately two hours to extinguish.
The fire began in a second-floor compressor and while investigators were unsure as to the initial cause of the fire, they believe that fine dust from food production was what caused the fire to spread throughout the building, causing approximately $300,000 worth of damage to the factory.
According to the president of Brady Enterprises, the company was hopeful to have the damage repaired and the facility back online within a week and any full-time employees unable to work at the facility in the meantime would be moved to a secondary location until the facility is repaired.
The facility was closed at the time of the incident so there was only a single maintenance worker and they were able to escape without injury, however, a firefighter was treated for a broken hand following the incident.
According to an OSHA establishment search, Bradley Enterprises has had four inspections since 2014. The current incident is being investigated and is flagged as a potential dust explosion by OSHA.
Sources:
The Patriot Ledger
The Boston Globe
OSHA Inspection
