One worker sent to hospital after explosion, fire in Wausau laboratory
By Cassandra Ambrosius, Content Manager
July 31, 2018
WAUSAU, WI (WAOW) -
An explosion and fire in a Wausau lab Tuesday sent one worker to the hospital and fire investigators identified magnesium as one of the chemicals involved.
The small explosion and fire happened about 11 a.m. during a chemical process being done in a laboratory at Dietary Pros Inc., a company on Wausau's west side that makes dietary supplements, according to the Wausau Fire Department.
Battalion Chief Alan Antolik said smoke was coming from the side of the building when crews arrived. All workers were evacuated.
Fire officials and Wausau police remained on the scene for hours, monitoring air quality, removing some of the products and chemicals and talking to workers.
Investigators say they don't know exactly what went wrong in the laboratory. Magnesium, an abundant mineral in the body, is naturally present in many foods, added to other food products, available as a dietary supplement and present in some medicines, such as antacids and laxatives.
Details of the worker's injuries were also not immediately released.
The head of Dietary Pros declined comment. The company was founded in 1999, according to its web site.
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UPDATE* Officials at the scene say there was a magnesium leak in the building, but the cause remains unknown.
Everyone was evacuated from the building. One person was taken to a nearby hospital, and there is no current word on the person's condition.
Officials are still investigating.
News 9 will have more updates as they become available.
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Fire crews are on the scene of an incident at a lab in Wausau.
The Wausau Fire Department was dispatched to Dietary Pros Inc. on Stewart Ave. Tuesday morning.
Stewart Ave. is blocked off in both directions in the area, according to a News 9 reporter on scene.
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Manufacturing
Dietary Pros offers several options for your dietary supplement:
- Chewable Tablet Formulation
- Ready To Drink Powder Formulation
- Specialized Probiotic Handling
- Tablet Pressing
- Encapsulation
- Granulation
- Tablet Coating
- Grinding
Packaging Options Include:
- Bottling from 50cc up to 3000cc sizes
- Resealable Pouches
- Bulk Packaging
- More options available upon request