Explosion at power plant leaves three workers with severe burns

Three men are severely burnt after an explosion Tuesday morning at Salem Harbor Power Station.

A water tube attached to the number three boiler at the plant, carrying 2,000 PSI of pressure, sustained the explosion, according to officials.

"It caused water to release in the form of steam. Three workers were severely injured," said Salem Fire Capt. Alan Dionne.

Three workers in the area suffered serious burns to their faces, necks, hands and heads - everywhere their skin was exposed, said Dionne. Rescue workers transported two of the victims to Salem Hospital and the third to Beverly Hospital. Authorities have not identified the workers, but said they were in serious condition as of this morning. Fellow workers moved the victims away from the site following the explosion, to separate areas of the building, Dionne said.

Gary Courts, the manager-director of Dominion New England, the parent company of Salem Harbor Power Station, said all employees except for a skeleton crew were evacuated from the unit where the explosion took place as a precaution. The other units on the site were operating as usual.

Courts said he understands that residents may be concerned for their safety, but that the plant poses no safety risk despite the explosion.

"The station is safe. There are no unsafe conditions at this point," said Courts.

OSHA, the state Department of Environmental Protection and a number of other agencies had representatives on site.

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">"The power plant has a very good safety record," said Dionne. "This is sort of unprecedented."</span>