Three Workers in Quebec Die in Explosion

March 3, 2000
Three employees at a vehicle testing plant in Quebec, Canada were killed Wednesday after a giant tank of compressed air exploded while they were preparing a vehicle for safety tests.

Three employees in Blainville, Quebec, were killed Wednesday after a giant tank of compressed air exploded while they were preparing a vehcile for safety tests.

Two of the men were decapitated in the powerful explosion of the 1,500-kilogram tank at PMG Technologies, said Albert Stringer, Blainville's director of public security.

"There were even bits of the vehicle that reached the ceiling. I haven't seen an accident like this in the 21 years I have been here," said Stringer.

The men were engineers and technical assistants who worked at the plant, which tests vehicles to comply with federal safety standards.

Officials at a news conference said that the explosion was caused by compressed air.

Three men were in the process of using it when the tank exploded, Stringer said.

Company vice-president Gilles Marleau refused to say what caused the blast or whether a tank exploded.

Marleau said up to eight people were treated for shock at a hospital in nearby St.-Jerome, but Stringer said the number was closer to 20.

The company, which has 50 employees, used to be the site of a Transport Canada facility. The plant has been privately owned since 1996.

Marleau said he did not know whether the company would suspend activities.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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