Explosion as man grinds drum open

A local man narrowly escaped serious injury on Saturday evening after a drum containing a flammable liquid exploded at his Cheetah Street home in Mbombela. According to Martin Jeffrey from Emer-G-Med, who responded to the scene, the victim and a friend were cutting open a drum containing the liquid with an angle grinder when the incident occurred.

“The two men were using an angle grinder to open the metal drum when sparks from the grinder ignited the liquid inside, causing an explosion.”

Fortunately for the burn victim, no serious injuries were sustained during the blast.

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The first responder continued, “He sustained first degree burns to his abdomen and forearms during the explosion and was transported to hospital for treatment.”

Highly flammable liquids such as petrol and paint thinners are usually stored in innocuous containers, so attempts to open these storage containers could potentially result in the loss of life. Petrol should be stored in well-ventilated areas, never under stairways, in passages or homes.

The storage area should be well away from any potential sources of ignition and as far away as possible from materials which may combust. Before storing petrol, it should be noted that the amount of petrol which may be stored in a garage or anywhere within a six-metre range of a home, is 30 litres.

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This includes up to 20 litres in two ten-litre metal containers and up to ten litres in two five-litre plastic containers.

Similarly, paint thinners should also be stored in cool, well-ventilated areas away from combustible materials, pets and children. The container should be clearly labelled and should be made of glass. After pouring the liquid, the container should be sealed tightly to prevent a similar accident from occurring.