Investigators seek cause of Falco explosion: 1984

GREEN, PEASE, WEEKS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/25/2015 at 08:29:19

Investigators seek cause of Falco explosion

Production work resumed this morning at the Fairfield Aluminum Castings Co. plant, one day after an explosion in the trim room fatally injured maintenance worker Jeffrey H. GREEN.

"There are a few not working because of an electrical problem," Robert D. Smith, vice president of administrative services said. "We're about 98 percent of normal."

Investigators continued to seek the cause of the explosion which was triggered by a fire in a large dust-collecting device. The explosion occurred at 5:20 a.m. Tuesday.

Fire Chief Jack Cavanee said he was told there were two quick explosions in the dust-collector, followed by a third one which was the largest.

GREEN, 24, who was working on the third shift, apparently tried to shut off the power when the blast knocked him down. He was taken to the Jefferson County Hospital and transferred to University Hospitals by Air Care helicopter, dying enroute to Iowa City.

Another night-shift worker, Randy PEASE, Fairfield, was treated for minor injury at the local hospital and released.

A resident of Ottumwa, Green had been employed at Falco since December, 1983. Services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the Robertson-Jay Funeral Home, 220 N. Court St., Ottumwa. The Rev. Wilbert Coleman of the Ottumwa AME Church will officiate. Burial will be in Ottumwa Cemetery. A memorial has been established the Ottumwa YMCA. The family will greet friends at the funeral home Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Smith said the plant will shut down Friday at 9:30 a.m. so employees could attend services for Green. Work will resume at 1 p.m.

Company officials immediately shut down the plant after the blast, sending home first-shift workers when they reported at 7 a.m. and cancelling two other shifts.

Smith said personnel from the state fire marshal's office and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration in Des Moines were on the scene early Tuesday afternoon. The fire marshal was represented by Mike Hile, Mount Pleasant. Also present were an insurance inspector and a representative from the company which manufactured the equipment involved in the explosion.

Smith said he had no idea when information about the cause of the blast might be available.

The company has released no damage estimate. Both the dust-collector and a nearby wheelabrator were heavily damaged. The force of the blast also imbedded a piece of metal in the roof, resulting in a small fire.

GREEN, who was single, resided with his parents at 109 S. Webster St., Ottumwa. He was born in Ottumwa, Jan. 15, 1960, the son of Curtis H. and Patricia WEEKS GREEN. He was a 1978 graduate of Ottumwa High School. Surviving are his parents and one sister, Jacqueline GREEN, Ottumwa.

(Transcribed for genealogy purposes only. I am of no relation.)