New safety guidelines could prevent another deadly explosion like that one that killed three Tomahawk paper mill workers in 2008.
A safety bulletin from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board’s recommends companies that do “hot” work, such as welding, test to make sure there aren’t any flammable gasses that could cause an explosion. Investigations supervisor Don Holmstrom says a portable gas monitor can go a long way towards saving lives.
Holmstrom says federal safety regulators like OSHA should move to require the use of such devices.
Holmstrom says the device could have prevented a storage tank blast that killed three Packaging Corporation of America employees in July 2008. He says their continuing investigation into the explosion will focus on the use of portable gas monitors.
Packaging Corporation of America machinist union president Brent Roberts says workers are now using the devices to monitor flammable gas.
The Board’s final report on the incident will be released later this summer.
AUDIO: Matt Lehman reports (:35)