Express & Star

Worker dies after industrial accident at Oldbury factory

A factory worker has died after an explosion at a recycling plant in Oldbury which saw two others injured.

Published
Last updated
The entrance to the IES site near to where the explosion took place in Union Road, Oldbury, badly burning a worker who later died of his injuries

The man suffered 'very serious burns' in the incident at the Innovative Environmental Solutions factory on Union Road and subsequently died, emergency services have confirmed.

Health and Safety Executive chiefs said they are aware of the incident and will investigate.

Two other workers also sustained burns in what police described as 'an industrial accident' in the early hours of Monday.

They remain in a stable condition today.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "A man has died following an industrial accident at industrial premises on Union Road, Oldbury on Monday, August 7.

"Police were called by the fire service just before 1.50am.

"Three men were taken to hospital where sadly a man in his 50s passed away.

"Two men in their 30s and 40s remain in a stable condition.

"The case has been passed to the Health and Safety Executive and the coroner to establish the cause of the incident."

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor said: "At 1.43am on Monday we were called to a recycling plant in Oldbury.

"We had three patients in total – including a male who had very serious burns.

"We sent three ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Hazardous Area Response Team, MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic.

"They travelled to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with that first patient.

"The second patient was another man who had burns, which were less serious. He was also conveyed to the same hospital.

"The third patient was a 32-year-old man with some fairly minor burns, who was taken to Sandwell General Hospital."

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "The HSE is aware of an incident and is in contact with emergency services."

IES has been approached for comment.