HSA looks into boiler explosion

A health and Safety Authority investigation was continuing yesterday at a Co Tipperary factory where six workers were injured…

A health and Safety Authority investigation was continuing yesterday at a Co Tipperary factory where six workers were injured, two of them seriously, in an explosion on Tuesday.

Production has temporarily ceased at the Glenpatrick Spring Water plant in Clonmel, where a boiler exploded in a filling room. One of those injured, a married man in his 30s, remained in a critical condition yesterday at Waterford Regional Hospital.

Mr John Ryall, the company's senior technical and development manager, said production had been stopped to facilitate the HSA investigation. It was hoped to restart "within days", he said. The 100 staff are retained on full pay.

The factory at Powerstown was custom-built for Glenpatrick five years ago, and the accident was the first of its kind to occur there.

The second man seriously injured was in a "comfortable" condition yesterday at Waterford Regional Hospital. He is also married and in his 30s. Four other workers suffered superficial injuries and were discharged after hospital treatment on Tuesday.

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Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley is a former Foreign Editor of The Irish Times