Nov. 24--WALLINGFORD -- A liquid oxygen tank is believed to have caused an early morning explosion at a plastic manufacturer that seriously injured a worker.
The explosion happened around 3:30 a.m. at the All Molded Plastics Company inside the Polylock building on Fairfield Boulevard. The blast was so powerful it blew out the industrial-strength windows of the building.
Seven workers were in the building at the time of the explosion, according to Fire Chief Peter Struble. A man working in the area of the explosion suffered serious shrapnel wounds to his chest and back.
According to a worker who was inside at the time of the blast, the man who was injured had only worked at the plant for a couple months. The victim was alert and talking after the explosion.
The man was taken to an area hospital for treatment, and is expected to be okay, Struble said. The other 6 workers were not injured.
According to Struble, the explosion is believed to have been was caused by a tank of liquid oxygen used for production. Initially investigators believed the explosion was caused by compressed liquid nitrogen.
Serious structural damage was caused to the building, however the building is stable, Struble said.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was at the scene Thursday to aid in the cleanup and investigation.
Firefighters remained at the scene Thursday morning investigating the incident.
