Three injured in gas explosion on a Pipeline

Three men are in critical condition at the emergency unit of the Lagos University teaching Hospital (LUTH) following a gas explosion at a workshop at Iyana-Ipaja.

The incident happened at the M.O Owolabi metal workshop on Wednesday about 2.30pm. Six of the workers were attempting to fill a metal cutting machine with industrial gas when the gas cylinder went up in flames and burnt three of them.

The others sustained minor injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital in the area.The incident caused panic among residents and passers-by at the Adealu bus stop where the shop is located .Some of the residents said they assumed that the explosion was a bomb blast and they feared for the worst.

Not a bomb blast

The manager of the company, Samuel Ayo dispelled the rumour of a bomb blast. He also denied the speculation that some of the workers died in the process.

“Work started that fateful day like every other day ,when it was about 2.00pm, six of our workers were trying to load the machine hydraulic valve with industrial gas when suddenly, all of a sudden ,we heard a loud noise,and the gas exploded caught fire. The fire burnt the three men that were close to the gas cylinder. They were burnt badly, their faces, hair, chest and hands were badly burnt. They were rushed to LUTH at Idi-Araba, where they are being attended to in the emergency unit of the hospital. The three others sustained minor injuries and they were treated at the hospital close by; so it is not true that our workers died. Nobody died and those taken to the hospital are responding to treatment” Mr Ayo said.

He added that the company insurance policy covers the workers and their bill will be taken care of by the company.

“The workers are covered with the insurance company policy and we will not abandon them, we are footing their bills. It is not as if anybody planned for this to happen it was an incident and the risk involved in the job, we sympathize with the workers and it is sad because this machine is what we used to cut all the metals we sell. And we need it, but we will be very careful so that next time an accident will not occur again.” Mr Ayo said.

Following the gas explosion, residents of the area urge the government to make factory work less hazardous.“I heard the gas explosion while I was standing at the bus stop, we all ran away, thinking it was a bomb. We were not sure until later when we heard it was a gas explosion from the factory, some of the workers were badly wounded by the explosion, and they were just groaning in pains.” one of the eye witness said. “Government should make factory work less dangerous so that things like this will not be happening. It is sad that people who left their homes for work are now disabled.”