Date: August 15, 2019
Location: Albany, Oregon (USA)
Address: 33992 7 Mile Lane SE, 97322
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Metal Dust
Industry: Aerospace Parts Manufacturing (Metal Working)
Equipment: Furnace
Company: Selmet, Inc.
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: Two Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Selmet, Inc. manufactures titanium castings and machined parts for the aerospace industry. It opened for business in 1983 and is headquartered in a 220,000-square-foot facility that employs over 500 people in the Albany, Oregon area.
The company has provided parts for the Boeing 737, Airbus A320, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and other projects.
Incident Description:
On August 15, 2019, Powder & Bulk Solids reported an explosion and fire at a specialty metals plant in Albany, Oregon.
Over 30 emergency personnel responded to the incident, which occurred at 7:53 a.m. in the area of a furnace used to melt titanium. According to the Lebanon Express, one witness said that the force of the explosion rattled his ribs and shook the ground. He also saw a plume of smoke and saw people running out of the building.
Two injured employees were transported to an area hospital by ambulance. One was subsequently flown to a Portland hospital and listed in critical condition. On August 21, the Democrat-Herald stated that he was still in the hospital, having sustained burns to 60% of his body.
Investigators from Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Tangent Rural Fire and the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office were working with the company to determine the cause of the explosion.
On August 20, Fox 12 News revealed that the plant had been cited by OSHA in the past for safety violations.
OSHA Inspections:
An establishment search turned up six OSHA inspections for Selmet, Inc., but none were flagged for combustible dust.
Sources:
Powder & Bulk Solids
Lebanon Express
Fox 12 News
Democrat-Herald
