Two Workers Injured At Water Plant Explosion

Two employees were injured in a lime dust explosion at a water treatment plant in Kansas City, MO, on July 15.

“That incident happened around 10:30 a.m. A spokesperson with KC Water said two workers at KC Water's Water Treatment Plant received chemical burns,” KMBC News reported.

Both workers were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

“One employee was released from the hospital a short time later, while the second employee will remain hospitalized for a few days,” the Associated Press reported.

The problem originated with a lime slaker, the report stated.

“The workers were dealing with a lime slaker when an excess amount of lime came into contact with water and caused a lime slurry to burn the employees,” KMBC News reported.

KC Water officials stated that lime addition is a regular part of softening processes.

“One employee was released from the hospital a short time later. The second employee will remain in the hospital for a few days,” the report stated.

The report stated that the employees are in good spirits.

KC Water officials pledged to review their processes, per KSHB.

“Safety is part of KC Water’s culture and all accidents are taken very seriously,” a statement said, per the report. “This accident will be reviewed to avoid such occurrences in the future. We are grateful the situation wasn’t worse and we will support our employees and their families as they recover.”

The incident is a reminder of the dangerous conditions that workers often endure. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that 5,190 workers were killed on the job in 2016. On average, that amounts to more than 99 a week or more than 14 deaths every day.