Date: September 20, 2018
Location: San Antonio, Texas (USA)
Address: 1 Lone Star Pass, Building 31, 78264
Type: Potential Dust Explosion
Fuel: Paint
Industry: Automotive (Manufacturing)
Equipment: Paint Scrubber System
Company: Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc.
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. was established on the site of the oldest working ranch in Texas. Toyota acquired the property in 2003, purchasing 2,600 acres of this ranchland south of downtown San Antonio. The company began operations in 2006. Today, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. is the home of the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma pickup truck and regularly offers tours of the manufacturing plant.
Incident Description:
On September 20, 2018, MySA reported a dust explosion and fire in an automotive plant on the south side of San Antonio, Texas. Company firefighters, assisted by 18 San Antonio firefighting units, responded to the incident, which was reported around 9:55 a.m. The fire was soon under control, although firefighters spent a while afterward clearing the smoke and checking the air quality before allowing employees back into the building.
Local news agency KTSA later reported that a vapour explosion in a paint scrubbing system was being blamed for the fire. A San Antonio Fire Department representative said that a “very minor explosion” occurred in an external scrubber system used to scrub off paint in the production process.
Nearly 250 employees were on site at the time, but there were no injuries.
OSHA Inspections:
An establishment search turned up one OSHA inspection for Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. but it was not flagged for combustible dust.
Sources:
MySA
KTSA
