JANESVILLE, Wis. (WFRV) – OSHA is now leading an investigation of two separate explosions at NaturPak in southern Wisconsin that left multiple employees with life-threatening injuries.
A release from the Janesville Police Department details two incidents at NaturPak, a Janesville manufacturer, that occurred on February 11 and March 18, both involving explosions.
After getting a 911 call on February 11 around 4:15 p.m. reporting an equipment explosion at the facility, first responders arrived to find two employees injured. One was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the other was flown to a hospital for life-threatening injuries.
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A preliminary investigation showed that a pressure relief valve on a tank used for boiling broth possibly malfunctioned. Shortly after, employees were allegedly told to stop talking to law enforcement.
Then, around 1:20 p.m. on March 18, 911 calls came in reporting another equipment-related explosion at NaturPak. Two employees were flown from the scene with life-threatening injuries, and another was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers reported ‘minimal’ cooperation from management at NaturPak during the investigation, the release states.
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Information on the victims’ status was not provided.
Local authorities provided all relevant information to OSHA, which will now lead the investigation.
