An explosion at a chemical plant in Japan’s Niigata Prefecture killed a contractor and injured two others on 14 June. The incident happened at a site operated by chemical manufacturer Denka in the city of Itoigawa.
According to Japanese news outlets, a 56-year old died at the scene after a small explosion. Police and firefighters were called to the site at around 09:40 local time and gave treatment, however he was confirmed as dead at the scene. Two other workers suffered minor injuries as a result of the blast and were transported to hospital for treatment.
In a statement, Denka said a pipe burst during maintenance work. News outlets report that the three men were cutting or welding the pipe when the explosion happened.
Denka added that the incident is now under investigation by the fire department, police and labour standards inspectorate. The company is fully cooperating with the authorities’ investigations and will cooperate fully. As soon as the cause of the accident is identified, Denka said it would seek guidance from the relevant authorities and implement measures to prevent any reoccurrence.
