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Worker Injured In Washington Co. Plant Accident

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Nov 30, 2008 11:13 pm US/Eastern

Worker Injured In Washington Co. Plant Accident

HOUSTON, Pa. (KDKA) ― A natural gas processing plant was closed today in Washington County after an accident with a faulty valve caused one worker to be injured.

A spokesperson for the company says the community was never at risk, but some people who live in the area say what happened today is cause for concern.

Operations at Markwest Energy were shutdown for most of Sunday afternoon when a worker at the Houston, Washington County facility was hurt in a mid-day accident.

"Indications are that it was a defective valve of some sort," said company spokesperson, Cory Bromley. "This is something kind of unusual, but we don't really know the full cause of it, but that's where the first burst came from is a defective valve."

Officials say the plant is a gas processing facility where natural gas is collected and brought to the plant and the liquid is then removed. The gas is then sent on to retailers and the interstate market.

There were about 30 workers on site at the time of the accident, officials say. People who live in the area say they heard a loud noise coming from the facility, but were never informed of what happened.

"They never told us about what happens in an incident likes this when there's an explosion. Are we in danger? What should we do?" said area resident, Bonnie Downing.

The company says the community was never in danger.

Also, officials say the injured worker, who has not been identified, is being treated at a local hospital for some cuts including one to the head. But he is reportedly doing fine.

The company spokesperson say he anticipates that operations will resume tomorrow at the facility, but there is no official word.

Officials say early indications are that the valve had a fracture of some sort and will need to be replaced before operations can continue.

The investigation into what happened continues.



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