On the first day after the New Year break, work
commenced in the recycling facilities which had been
modified over the holidays. The toner cartridge recycling
work was completed in the morning, and demolition work
began after lunch at 12:45. An explosion occurred when
personal computers were being crushed (see Figure 1).
Three workers were injured. Most of the crushing
process at the factory was damaged, and most buildings
were burnt. Outside the factory, parts of two buildings were
damaged by the blast.
Considering the appearance of the site and reports from
workers, it was concluded that a dust explosion had
occurred in a recycle machine. Toner powder from toner cartridges was suspected to be the material that caused the
dust explosion.