Two workers were injured -- one critically -- when a tanker they were emptying that contained sodium hydroxide exploded Thursday morning in South Memphis, TN.

The workers were offloading the contents into what they believed was an empty container but, according to a lieutenant with the Memphis Fire Department, it contained sulfuric acid residue. The combination is said to have caused the explosion.

The incident took place at Excel TSD LLC, which is a commercial hazardous waste storage, treatment, and disposal facility.

Excel has received the Governor’s Award of Excellence for Workplace Safety and the SHARP Award, of Tennessee’s highest honors for workplace safety and health for employers with fewer than 250 workers in high-hazard industrial classifications.

For related articles, news, and equipment reviews, visit our Explosion Protection & Safety Equipment Zone

Click here for a List of Explosion Protection & Safety Equipment Manufacturers