Date: March 16, 2018
Location: La Angelita, Ascensión (Argentina)
Address: Ruta 45 y Acceso, La Angelita, CP 6003
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Agricultural
Equipment: Bucket Elevator/Silo
Company: Cooperativa Agrícola Ganadera Ltd. De Ascensión
Previous Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: 6 People Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
Based in the town of Ascensión in the northwest of the Buenos Aires province, Cooperativa Agrícola Ganadera Ltd. is focused on commercialization, transporting and marketing of cereals. It also produces and markets agricultural supplies such as agrochemicals, fertilizers, fuels, lubricants and others.
Description of Grain Storage Plant Explosion:
On March 16th, 2018, La Verdad reported an explosion at the grain collection plant belonging to the Cooperativa Agrícola Ganadera Limitada. The plant is located in the town of La Angelita (Ascensión), at Provincial Route No. 45, between the San Luis and Independencia.
As per Democracia, around 7.30 pm, the explosion was a result of a short circuit, at the base of a “wheel well” which was elevating grains into the silos. Luckily, all workers present on site at the time of the incident were engaged outside of the well.
There were no fatalities, but six people were severely injured as a result of the explosion: two members of the personnel working on the electrical installation were harmed by a falling cement structure, while the other employees experienced serious burns.
The injuries were serious, but not life-threatening. One of the victims experienced a spine fracture and cut to the head, another person suffered severe and complex fractures to tibia and fibula. One of the burn victims also suffered burns to 40% of their the body.
After the injured had been transported to local hospitals, firefighting volunteers and police continued the action on site. Police officers had to guard the area as the plant structure was in risk of collapsing.
An official investigation was launched to establish the cause of the incident.
Sources:
La Verdad
Democracia
