A worker from a company outside the Saint-Gobain Verallia factory in Chalon-sur-Saône, in Saône-et-Loire, fell into a hopper on Wednesday afternoon whilst carrying out a “routine maintenance operation”. According to reports in the local press, quoting the sub-prefect Jean-Jacques Boyer, the man was engulfed by dust, sustaining severe damage to his lungs, which led to respiratory arrest and subsequently cardiac arrest.
Whilst attempting to come to his aid, two factory workers and six firefighters were affected and suffered burns as a result of inhaling hot dust. They underwent several medical examinations and their condition "is not considered cause for alarm", reports The Saône-et-Loire newspaper. However, the worker was resuscitated and airlifted to the Edouard-Herriot Hospital in Lyon. His condition is critical.
52 firefighters deployed
To carry out the operation, the SDIS 71 operations centre deployed 52 firefighters with several emergency vehicles, including seven emergency and victim-assistance vehicles, a mobile chemical hazard and decontamination unit, and two other vehicles. The SAMU was also on site.
