Three injured in office-block blast: [2 Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 23 July 2001: 5.
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Abstract
The explosion occurred in the air conditioning plant of Plessey House, near the corner of Arthur and Mount streets overlooking the northern approaches to theHarbour Bridge.
The blast is believed to have occurred at 9.54pm. Firemen, who took six minutes to arrive at the scene, found the injured men stumbling towards the entrance of the building.
Mr [Ian Krimmer] said Sydney’s state-of-the-art computerised fire detection system meant the nearest fire station was alerted within three seconds of theexplosion triggering the building’s alarms.
Full Text
THREE men were taken to hospital last night with serious burns after an explosion ripped through a North Sydney office block.
The explosion occurred in the air conditioning plant of Plessey House, near the corner of Arthur and Mount streets overlooking the northern approaches to theHarbour Bridge.
The blast is believed to have occurred at 9.54pm. Firemen, who took six minutes to arrive at the scene, found the injured men stumbling towards the entrance of the building.
The workers are believed to have been sprayed with hot oil by the blast.
Ambulance paramedic commander Phil Good said the burns to the men appeared “significant”, although they were conscious and talking as they were taken to the North Shore Hospital.
“It can be very difficult to tell how bad burns are at first,” he said.
There was a large amount of damage to the plant room, which measures 5m by 10m. A substantial brick wall was knocked over by the force of the explosion.
NSW Fire Brigades spokesman Ian Krimmer said four fire units attended the scene.
“It appears the three men were working in an air conditioning plant on the 19th floor,” he said.
“Initial investigations suggest the men were working on an electrical switchboard.”
Mr Krimmer said Sydney’s state-of-the-art computerised fire detection system meant the nearest fire station was alerted within three seconds of the explosion triggering the building’s alarms.
Late last night fire investigators and police forensic officers were attempting to determine the cause and extent of the explosion.
WorkCover and Energy Australia are expected to begin their investigations this morning.
Illustration
Caption: Burns: Picture: Brad Newman; Photo: Photo