Watch: Oxygen Tanks Explode, Injuring Milwaukee Sanitation Worker
A sanitation worker in Milwaukee was injured when oxygen tanks exploded in a truck compactor.
"One of the pieces of shrapnel was lodged in his eye. They were able to remove that. We are very fortunate that he was wearing his safety glasses, which is something that we train everybody to do," Sanitation Services Manager Rick Myers told WISN.
He explained that the tanks blew when they were compromised by the compactor blade.
"It definitely could've been worse. The carts in that case were still on the end of the truck where it took some of the blow, but even with that, he was blown back many feet, and the shrapnel, so a very dangerous situation," Myers said.
Two other tanks were found intact.
A similar incident occurred two years ago in Milwaukee, but no one was injured.
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Susan Nicol
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Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.