An explosion rocked a small chemical plant in West Virginia's northern panhandle, killing two workers and injuring another, the plant's office manager said Thursday.
Theresa D'Aurora, the office manager at the plant owned by AL Solutions Inc., confirmed that two employees died in Thursday's explosion. She could not provide any other details.
She said that although the company handles chemicals, there have been no evacuations in the area. The company develops additives for the aluminum industry.
Ken Kline, the chief financial officer for AL Solutions Inc., said the blast happened just before 1:30 p.m. at the Hancock County plant, which employs about 25 people. The blast happened in the main production building, he said.
"We're trying to determine the extent of the damage and take care of our employees," he said.
Labor Department spokeswoman Joanna Hawkins said the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating and on its way to the scene.
AL Solutions was formerly called Jamegy Inc. The company website says it also has a plant in Missouri.
The plant has been the scene of two explosions since 1995. In August 1995, a worker was killed and another injured when an explosion and fire ripped through the plant when it was operated by Jamegy.
In 2006, another worker died following an explosion and fire in a production building.
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Online: http://www.alsolutionsinc.com/content/corporate.asp
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Associated Press writer Vicki Smith contributed to this report from Morgantown, W.Va.
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