Fire destroys sawmill causing RM2 million losses.
"KEPALA BATAS: 13 August, Fire destroyed a sawmill in
Jalan Dua here at 12.30am yesterday causing RM2 million loss.
Penang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director, Mohamad Shoki
Hamzah said 32 firemen from Butterworth, Perai and Kepala Batas took two hours
to put out the blaze.
“Firemen managed to prevent the fire from spreading to a tank
containing 500 litres of diesel in the factory yard,” he said when contacted
here yesterday.
No casualties were reported as the factory workers managed to
escape soon after the fire broke out.
The forensic team is investigating the cause of
the fire and actual loss. — Bernama
Chronology of Sawmill Fire Incidents
April 23: Explosion and fire occur at Kepala Batas
sawmill factory. Fireman manages to prevent the fire from spreading to a tank
containing 500 liters of diesel in the factory yard.
April 24: The forensic team on the site investigating
the cause of the fire and actual loss.
Days following investigators have been on site and in
the community.
WorkSafeBC.com
Interruption of loss
Due to the fire happen, the factory suffer a loss
amount 2 million Ringgit Malaysia. The production will be interrupt due to the
machinery background. The owner of the factory must quickly to do something
that can back up the profit to gain a profit. Besides machinery breakdown, the
raw material is also damage so it will stop the production. Not only that, the
company also has to close the factory until they are ensuring that the place is
safe. Insurance company will cover their loss during the indemnity period until
the sales of the company gain back to normal.
Lesson Learn
Owner of the factory are
trying to improve safety but do not have enough knowledge to taken the problem
including with engineering solutions. They need to acquire those skills,
perhaps with the help of safety engineering degrees.
They must implement dust cleaning program, in dust
control equipment upgrades and creating and independent dust audit for used in
their mills.
Supervisors should make it a priority to assess the
potential for dust fires and explosions.
Inspect for dust accumulation in open and hidden areas
on regular intervals. Clean dust residues at regular interval using particular
caution if using compressor air. If ignition sources are present, use cleaning method
that does not generate dust cloud.
Locate relief values a way from dust hazard areas. All
areas where dust may accumulate need to be cleaned as often as necessary.
Reference
Bernama. (2013, August 13) Fire
destroys sawmill causing RM2 mln loss, Retrieved 14 August , from http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/08/14/fire-destroys-sawmill-causing-rm2-mln-loss/
