Boiler Explosion Claims a Fourth Victim

An April 3 incident involving a boiler explosion in St. Louis has claimed the life of a third employee of Faultless Healthcare Services, according to news reports.

“We have learned that our third employee, Clifford Lee, 53, injured in the Loy-Lange boiler explosion, has died of his injuries,” Faultless COO Mark Spence said in a statement issued on April 6. He added that Lee and the two other victims all knew each other and were newly hired employees of Faultless. “We understand that he was a friend of Tonya Gonzalez-Suarez and Christopher Watkins, who were married to each other and also died of their injuries. For each of the three, it was their first day of work at the plant. We mourn this terrible loss with their families and are grateful for the thoughtful and generous support offered to these families by so many in this community.”

Lee was severely injured when a boiler at the Loy-Lange Box Co. in the Soulard section of South St. Louis, exploded and flew 500 feet through the roof of the factory before crashing through the roof of the Faultless plant a block away. The initial explosion claimed the life of, Kenneth Trentham, 59, a Loy-Lange employee. Another Loy-Lange employee also was injured and remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Gonzalez-Suarez and Watkins died when the roughly 3,000 lb. boiler crashed through Faultless’ roof above an area of the plant used for offices.

Spence thanked laundry industry colleagues as well as local officials and others who’ve offered assistance and support during an extraordinarily difficult and painful week for Faultless. “We appreciate the many kindnesses shown to our company in these last days by city officials, business and community leaders as well as many individuals,” Spence said.

Officials of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are investigating the incident, but it could take months before findings are issued, according to OSHA’s Scott Allen, who called the situation “complicated.” Click here for details. A, three-person team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, an independent federal agency charged with driving chemical safety through independent investigations to protect people and the environment, arrived on-site on April 6 to conduct their own  investigation on April 6. The CSB is coordinating its investigation with local emergency responders and other federal agencies and investigative entities.

Meanwhile, a nonprofit group, the Sons and Daughters of Soulard, announced on April 6 an effort to raise money to benefit the families of the Faultless Healthcare victims of the Loy-Lange boiler explosion. The group – comprised of charitable organizations and community-minded businesses – is collecting donations to be divided equally among the families of the victims. Click here to contribute to the fund. Click here and here for more information on the boiler explosion and its aftermath.