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| David Ward, lineman. Injured at the blast |
DANVILLE, Va (WDBJ7)
Update:
Charles Sutton, who was one of two City of Danville utilities workers injured early Monday outside the Intertape Polymer Group plant in Pittsylvania County, has been treated and released from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
At this time, the condition of the other utility worker, David Ward, is unknown. He was transported to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Original Story:
Two Danville utility workers are in the hospital after being hurt Monday morning during an explosion.
It happened around 11:00 a.m., outside the Intertape Polymer Group plant on Eagle Springs Road in Pittsylvania County.
The workers, identified as Charles Sutton and David Ward, suffered burns, but the extent is not known at this point.
Sutton was flown directly to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Ward was taken to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Sutton and Ward were working on the wiring for future needs at the plant when the explosion happened.
Officials say the cause of the explosion is not known right now.
“We will work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other authorities to determine the cause,” Director of Utilities Jason Grey said.
The explosion left a portion of the plant without power, which is expected to be restored by this evening.
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Two Danville utility workers were injured Monday morning during an explosion outside the Intertape Polymer Group plant on Eagle Springs Road in Pittsylvania County.
The explosion occurred around 11 a.m., said Jason Grey, director of utilities.
The workers — Charles Sutton and David Ward — suffered burns. Sutton was flown directly to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Ward was transported to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Sutton was treated and released, Danville Public Information Officer Arnold Hendrix stated in a news release. Information on Ward was not available Monday afternoon.
Sutton and Ward were working on the wiring for future needs at the plant when the explosion occurred. Grey said the cause of the explosion was not immediately known.
Intertape Operations Manager Mike Jones said the work performed by utilities workers was related to an expansion at the plant. Intertape, which manufactures carton-sealing tape and stretch film, is installing new equipment, he said.
The explosion left a portion of the plant without power, which was expected to be restored by Monday evening.
Ringgold Volunteer Fire and Rescue responded to the incident.
“We will work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other authorities to determine the cause,” Grey said in the statement.
Monday’s explosion followed a fatal incident in which Samuel Thompson, a 63-year-old employee of Danville Power and Light, died Thursday morning while working on a power line on Applewood Drive in Pittsylvania County.
Thompson and a co-worker were responding to a power outage in the area. Thompson was in an elevated bucket truck when the electrocution occurred.
Jennifer Rose, Virginia Occupational Safety and Health safety director with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, said an on-site inspection is taking place regarding last week’s incident.
The department has up to six months to complete the case and may issue citations if warranted, Rose said.
The city is required to report the hospitalizations to VOSH/DOLI, Rose said. She said she did not yet have information on Monday’s incident.
Danville Utilities provides natural gas, water, wastewater and telecommunications services in Danville and distributes electricity to approximately 42,000 customer locations in a 500-square-mile service territory covering Danville, the southern third of Pittsylvania County, and small portions of Henry and Halifax counties.