Worker hurt in Airgas explosion
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on August 21, 2009 1:46 PM
A male worker at Airgas National Welders was severely injured after an oxygen cylinder he was filling ruptured on Thursday morning, a company spokesman said.
Jay Worley, Airgas Vice President for Communications and Investor Relations, said the name of the technician was not being released as of today.
Airgas National Welders has a cylinder filling plant on Hinnant Road, off of old U.S. 117 North between Goldsboro and Pikeville.
Worley said the technician was filling a cylinder when a small explosion occurred, causing severe injury to the man's legs.
A Wayne County ambulance responded to the scene and took him to Wayne Memorial Hospital. He was later taken by medical helicopter to Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville, Worley said.
Worley said the technician was the only person was injured in the accident, and that "property damage was limited to the cylinder that failed."
The spokesman said the company was looking into the incident.
"Of course, we're now beginning an investigation to determine the cause of the failure," Worley said.