Saturday, March 28, 2015

1 WORKER KILLED, 2 INJURED IN EXPLOSION AT TIMET, A BERKS COUNTY, PA METAL MANUFACTURING PLANT






MARCH 28, 2015

MORGANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA (WPVI)

One worker was killed and two others were injured in an explosion at a Berks County plant Friday night.  The name of the company is Titanium Metals Corporation (Timet).

The explosion happened just before 11:00 p.m. at the Timet Plant located at 900 Hemlock Road, Morgantown Business Park, in Morgantown, PA 19543.  

Multiple people called 911 when the deadly explosion happened.  When fire crews arrived, they found a worker trapped under a piece of equipment in the plant.

27-year-old Jacob Lopez of Ephrata was killed in the blast.  He was pronounced dead at 12:22 a.m. on Saturday by Berks Deputy Coroner Christopher Chesonis.
The three injured workers were transported to an area hospital in unknown condition. 

Township police officer Matthew Menna said the blast happened in the melt shop of the plant, but there was no fire by the time officers arrived.

The investigation is being led by Pennsylvania State Police, the fire marshal and OSHA.

Timet is a manufacturer of titanium based metal products.  Their corporate headquarters are in Exton, PA.  This was the second major emergency in less than two years at Timet, which was the scene of a three-alarm fire in June 2013.

About 200 firefighters from two dozen companies in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties responded to that blaze, which state police ruled accidental. Investigators said it caused about $3.5 million in damage.

TIMET developed or co-developed most titanium alloys in use today, and continues to innovate to meet changing customer needs. From traditional discrete mill products to customized near-net shapes to kits with finished components ready for the assembly line.