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March 23, 2011

Explosion in carbide plant

The CSB is planning to investigate an explosion in a carbide plant in the US, that occurred on Tuesday. Two employees were killed in the incident. A news report mentions that
"Located along the Ohio River in West Louisville, the plant is part of a petrochemical complex dubbed Rubbertown. It makes calcium carbide products, which are used in metal fabrication and construction.
The initial explosion occurred around 5:40 p.m. Monday and involved calcium-carbide — a flammable compound that combined with water produces unstable acetylene gas, Hamilton said. The second explosion happened when one of three transformers that contained mineral oil above the original blast caught fire, officials said."
The workers who died were longtime employees who worked in the furnace department where the explosion occurred, said plant general manager John Gant. Jorge Medina, 56, of Louisville, died at University Hospital early Tuesday morning with third-degree burns over 90 percent of his body. An autopsy is planned for Steven Nicholas, 59, of Charlestown, Ind., who died Monday".
Read the article in this link.

See video and pictures of the accident in this link

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