Legal news for Michigan employment attorneys. A worker was injured when a settling tank exploded and caused a fire.
Occupational Health and Safety Administration alerts Michigan employment lawyers- An explosion caused by a settling tank ignited the plant’s roof on fire.
Detroit, MI—Multiple explosions rocked a Michigan welding supply plant left a worker injured and caused several area homes and business to be evacuated. A tank exploded and burst into flames on Monday morning, November 2, 2009 around 8:20 a.m., at the South Park Welding Supply Plant near Port Huron and Marysville city line, as reported by The Detroit News.
attempting to remove a valve from a settling tank when the explosion occurred.
Several smaller explosions followed shortly after the first explosion sent glass, metal, and tanks flying hundreds of feet through the air. The worker who was removing the valve was able to walk out of the building after the explosion to wait for emergency rescue teams to seek treatment. Witnesses reported huge clouds of thick black smoke after the explosion rattled their windows. A fire ignited on the roof of the plant and caused it to collapse. The fire continued to burn for nearly two hours while firefighters battled the blaze to bring it under control.
At least 15 to 20 homes and businesses in the surrounding area were evacuated. The worker, who was only identified as a 48-year-old man, was transported to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Port Huron and then was transferred to Metro Detroit hospital for further treatment. His injuries were reportedly non-life threatening. It is unknown what caused the tank to explode. Officials with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) http://www.atf.gov/ are conducting a full investigation along with St. Clair County hazardous materials into the explosion and fire. Officials with the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) http://www.osha.gov/ are expected to arrive at the site and conduct an investigation.
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for Michigan employment lawyers.