Case study of a nylon fibre explosion: An example of explosion risk in a textile plant

This paper offers an overview of an explosion that occurred in a textile industry, due to the deflagration of a particular nylon fibre called flock. The evidence, the methods and the results of the inquiry are reported. The explosion occurred in a plant that produced a characteristic kind of flocked thread which is entirely made of a synthetic material. The explosion took place inside a dryer and propagated to the connected suction plant. The explosion occurred when the plant was switched on after a long stop due to a process fault. Three workers were injured. The inquiry includes the measurement of the most important properties of the flock such as the minimum ignition energy (MIE) and the lower explosion concentration (LEL), together with an examination the exam of the damage and of the testimony of the witnesses. The dynamics of the event are reconstructed in the paper and the effects, on the accident, of the many mistakes that have been made in the risk analysis are highlighted and discussed.