Falco worker fatally hurt in plant explosion: 1984

GREEN, PEASE

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/26/2015 at 08:11:40

The Fairfield Ledger
Tuesday, June 19, 1984

Falco worker fatally hurt in plant explosion

A maintenance worker suffered fatal injuries early this morning when a dust-collecting device exploded at the Fairfield Aluminum Castings Co. plant.

Jeff GREEN, 24, Ottumwa, was taken to the Jefferson County Hospital and transferred to University Hospitals by Air Care helicopter. Hospital officials said he died enroute to Iowa City.

Another workman, Randy PEASE, Fairfield, was treated for minor injuries at the local hospital and released. PEASE, a leadman, and GREEN were both employed on the night shift.

The explosion occurred at 5:10 a.m. Company officials immediately shut down the plant and members of the first shift were sent home when they arrived for work at 7 a.m. Both today's second shift, scheduled at 3:30 p.m., and the third shift, scheduled at 11 p.m., have been cancelled, Robert D. SMITH, vice president of administrative services said.

"There was a series of explosions," Richard B. HUNT, Falco president said. "At this point we don't know how many."

Fire Chief Jack CAVENEE said he was told there were two quick explosions in the dust collector followed by a third one which was larger, all of them occurring before firemen arrived.

"Apparently GREEN went to shut off the power when he was injured," Smith said. "We don't know why it malfunctioned but we have notified the state fire marshal's office and the OSHA office in Des Moines. Their people will be here this afternoon to investigate."

GREEN had been employed at Falco since December, 1983. He was single and made his home with his parents, Curtis and Pat GREEN, 109 S. Webster St., Ottumwa. Falco personnel informed the GREENs of the accident and drove them to Iowa City where they learned of their son's death. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

SMITH said fire which started in the dust-collector led to the explosion. The cause of the fire, he added, has not been determined. GREEN was knocked down by the explosion and officials believe his injuries were caused by concussion.

The accident occurred in the trim room near the center of the plant. The dust-collector acts as a large vacuum cleaner, removing dust and metal particles which result when metal castings go through a grinding process. SMITH said it is cleaned on a regular basis.

The collector, which is covered with sheet metal, sits on the floor. It measures approximately 10 by 15 feet and is about 15 feet high. Firemen said the fire continued to burn in the collector until after 8 a.m. CAVENEE said G-1 powder, which is a dry chemical, was used on the flames. Falco workmen also used sand to help bring it under control.

The force of the explosion imbedded a piece of metal in the trim room roof, resulting in a small fire. Firemen quickly controlled it by tearing out smoldering roof insulation.

HUNT said no damage estimate had been made. The only machines affected were the dust-collector, which shows little exterior damage, and a nearby machine called a "whellabrator," which is used to polish castings. The wheelabrator is located on the other side of an interior wall and is connected to the dust-collector by a hose. The machine sustained heavy damage, although it was down and not operating at the time of the explosion.

HUNT said the company hoped to resume production work with the day shift Wednesday, unless their(sp) is extensive damage to the electrical system.

Today's explosion was the first fatal accident in the 39-year history of the Fairfield plant.