An employee has died following a workplace incident at Alcoa’s Alumar aluminium smelter in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The company confirmed that the incident was work-related and involved lighting maintenance at the facility’s carbon plant.
According to Alcoa, the employee was found unconscious at the smelter on 16 September 2026 and transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The employee subsequently died from their injuries.
Alumar has completed its internal investigation into the incident and is cooperating with its partners and relevant authorities as their investigations continue. The company has not publicly detailed the specific circumstances that led to the employee’s death.
In its statement, Alcoa highlighted the importance of verifying required safety controls before beginning production or maintenance activities. The company also expressed its condolences to the employee’s family, friends and co-workers, acknowledging the lasting impact of the loss. 
This tragic incident is a reminder that workplace safety must remain a priority in every industrial operation. Verifying safety procedures, identifying potential hazards and ensuring that the necessary protective measures are in place before maintenance begins are essential steps in preventing accidents and protecting workers’ lives. In aluminium production, as in every industrial environment, safety checks must never be treated as a formality.
Source: Alcoa with additional information added by Glass Balkan
