ST. CHALRES PARISH, La. — Two workers were injured Monday morning after a hydrogen gas release sparked a fire at the Air Products plant in St. Charles Parish, La., The Times-Picayune reported.
The facility produces industrial gas and chemicals.
A spokesman for Air Products said the release occurred during the start up of a hydrogen off-gas plant, which purifies industrial gases containing hydrogen.
"We do not know the cause of the energy release at this time and will conduct a thorough investigation,'''' said company spokesman Art George. "The main hydrogen production facility was unaffected by the energy release and remains in operation."
According to a New Orleans television station, one of the workers received burns to 40 percent of his body and the other injured a hand.