An explosion in a paint-mixing machine that blew out windows and shook a large Dunedin building on Friday was a lesson to people who worked with paint, a fire safety officer says.
A man, who was "very lucky" not to receive more than a few minor burns to his arms, was mixing paint in the leased workshop in the Mainfreight Transport Depot in Strathallan St when the explosion happened about 10am, Fire Safety Officer Barry Gibson said.
A spark ignited vapours in the bottom of the mixing machine and the subsequent explosion blew out the workshop's windows, including the window frames. It also blew an extractor fan out of the wall.
"One guy upstairs told me the whole building jumped."
Another person in the building put out the fire with a fire extinguisher.
"This is a time for people working with paints to remember that flammable paints in particular are quite volatile, that vapours can ignite and machines should be operated as per the [appropriate] regulations and guidelines."
There was no indication there was an inherent issue with paint-mixers, Mr Gibson said.
