NATRIUM - All 11 of the workers injured in a Tuesday incident at a Marshall County chemical plant have been released from local hospitals, plant owner Axiall said Wednesday.
Eight of the workers were treated and released on Tuesday and three workers who were kept overnight for medical observation were released on Wednesday, said Axiall spokeswoman Meagan Weinzierl.
The workers received burns and inhalation injuries in an "equipment failure" that released steam and ash from a tank that is part of the plant power house's coal-fired boiler.
All 11 workers who were injured were employed by Axiall contractor Chapman Corporation of Washington, Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is investigating the incident.
OSHA spokeswoman Leni Uddyback-Fortson said that the incident involved "a failure" of the boiler, which resulted in a breach in a boiler wall. Contract employees were performing work not related to the boiler, but were in the area at the time, Uddyback-Fortson said.
They were burned on the case and suffered respiratory concerns from the steam, she said. OSHA is continuing to investigate.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is reviewing information about the incident, but has not yet decided whether it will open an investigation.