2 workers in critical condition after plant blast in Sarnia, Ont.
by The Canadian Press
Explosion ripped through Veolia ES Canada industrial cleaning, maintenance services facility
SARNIA, Ont.—A second victim of an explosion at an industrial facility in southwestern Ontario is now in critical condition, police said.
The worker at the Veolia ES Canada Industrial Services Inc. plant in Sarnia, Ont., has been airlifted to a hospital in London, Ont., Sarnia police Staff-Sgt. David Bonnema said.
The explosion ripped through the industrial cleaning and maintenance services facility Oct. 25, sending five employees to hospital with burn injuries—one of whom was also critically injured and immediately transferred to London.
Bonnema said the Ontario Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the blast, which tore a hole in the building’s exterior wall.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Environment are also at the scene.
No chemicals were released in the explosion, he added.
While the scene is contained, a “small, smoldering fire” continued to burn inside the destroyed facility as of Oct. 26, Sarnia fire Capt. Dan Nelles said.
Eight workers were inside the building when the blast occurred in the facility’s paint shop, with three assessed at the scene and released.
In a statement, Veolia said it is “fully co-operating with the Ministry of Labour and other local authorities to investigate its cause.
“The employees of Veolia are deeply concerned for our co-workers, and our thoughts are prayers are with them at this time.”
