AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Fire crews responded to an explosion at a fiber-optic coating company that killed one person on Wednesday.
It happened at DSM Resins, on Columbia Nitrogen Drive off Laney Walker Boulevard, in Augusta.
A spokesperson for the city says the explosion happened inside the plant, apparently the result of a welding accident.
When firefighters and EMS arrived, they met with a plant specialist, to make sure it was safe enough for them to enter the building.
One man was killed.
The coroner has identified him as 29-year-old Steven Gonsalves of Beech Island.
2 other people were hurt.
They’re being treated at the hospital.
City of Augusta spokesperson Jim Beasley says the workers are being treated for decontamination, due to exposure to chemicals.
The Fire Chief says the facility was not evacuated, and the explosion did not present any harm to the general public.
The investigation was turned over to OSHA.
“To our knowledge there was no chemical leak. Like I said, some of that information will be determined as a more thorough, more scientific type of investigation takes place. We do know that is was an explosion. We do know who, that we have 1 death, 2 injured and as far as the safety and health of the community at this point everything is under control,” said Augusta Fire Chief, Chris James.
We did receive an official statement from the North American DSM President Hugh Welsh that says:
“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred today at the DSM site in Augusta and our thoughts are with the families of the man who suffered a fatal injury and those who were injured. Authorities are on the scene conducting an investigation and DSM will of course investigate the cause of this accident as well. Currently the cause has not been confirmed and rather than speculate we will wait until the investigation is complete. More definitive information will be provided as soon as it is available.”
