Canada Explosion Injures Five at Canadian Chrysler Plant

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Nando Times

BRAMPTON, Ontario (July 9, 2000 9:53 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com)

Five workers were injured Sunday when an explosion in the paint shop of a Chrysler plant sparked a massive fire and toxic fumes.

Police officer Wendy Sims said it was unclear what caused the explosion at the Chrysler Bramalea Assembly in Brampton's industrial area. A solvent line in the plant's paint area had ruptured, and fire officials were waiting for it to die down before they could determine the cause of the explosion, Sims said.

One woman, 32, was airlifted to a hospital with head and chest injuries, police said.

Two workers, a 21-year-old male and a 24-year-old female, were transported to area hospitals for minor injuries.

A male and female, both 48, were treated at the scene.

The plant was on a summer shutdown but more than 200 employees, contract workers and security personnel were at the plant Sunday.

Toxic fumes and flames that resulted from the explosion were under control late Sunday.

The Bramalea Assembly Plant, which opened in 1987, produces the Intrepid, Concorde and 300M, among other car models.

In 1997, the plant underwent $850 million in renovations to allow for construction of the vehicles' new designs.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), July 10, 2000

Answers

yahoo

Sunday July 9 9:38 PM ET

Daimler Chrysler Plant Explosion Injures Six

TORONTO (Reuters) - Six workers at DaimlerChrysler Canada's Brampton assembly plant were injured in an explosion in the paint shop on Sunday, a company spokesman said.

A spark in the plant's paint shop shortly after 1:30 p.m. EDT ignited a fire and explosion, spokesman Tom McPherson said, adding that the fire and plant management were investigating.

``Approximately 460 employers and contractors were on site when the explosion occurred and all have been accounted for,'' McPherson said of the plant which employs just under 5,000 people and is located in a suburb northwest of Toronto.

He said of the six injured, one woman was airlifted to a hospital for treatment.

Three other employees were taken to another hospital for treatment of minor cuts and bruises. The two other injured were treated by plant medical staff and released. McPherson did not release details on the age or sex of those injured.

The plant produces the Chrysler 300M, LHS, Concorde and the Chrysler Dodge Intrepid. Employees were expected to report for work Monday morning at the plant, McPherson said.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), July 12, 2000.


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