July 16, 2010

Explosion injures worker at SPS

By Angeljean Chiaramida Staff writer

SALISBURY — A 48-year-old New Hampshire man sustained a broken leg and head injuries yesterday morning from an explosion that occurred while he was on the job at Salisbury heavy construction firm SPS New England.

About 7:30 yesterday morning, Dennis Chagnon, of Alton, N.H., was thrown from a company boat while he was welding at SPS New England's outdoor maintenance garage at 98 Elm St., according to Salisbury fire Chief Rick Souliotis.

Chagnon, a certified welder and 15-year SPS employee, was transported to Anna Jaques Hospital by Amesbury ambulance, which responded to the incident along with American Medical Response personnel and the Salisbury Fire Department.

Anna Jaques sent Chagnon to a Boston hospital by ground transport, Souliotis said, where his injuries were treated. As of yesterday afternoon, Souliotis believed the head injuries were not major.

The exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, said Souliotis, who, per department protocol with workplace accidents, called in investigators from the state fire marshal's office and federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration.

Investigators were on the scene yesterday from about 10 a.m. to after 2 p.m., said Souliotis, who hopes a final report on the incident will be released in about a week.

After interviewing those involved, Souliotis said he learned that Chagnon was on one of SPS New England's work boats welding when the force of the explosion threw him in the air and from the boat.

"He landed on a dump truck and sustained a compound fracture of his leg," Souliotis said. "I believe he's been cleared of the head injuries he sustained."

Souliotis said state and federal safety investigators interviewed witnesses and took a number of pictures of the scene, all of which will be reviewed over the coming week to formulate a report on the incident. He added that SPS officials are cooperating fully with the investigation.

Souliotis said safety officials suspect gasoline vapors from the enclosed boat may have accumulated inside it and ignited during the welding. Or, pressure may have built up within the solid boat to cause an explosion.

"But we won't know for certain what caused the explosion until the investigation is completed," he said.

Salisbury-based and owned by the Capolupo family, SPS New England is a construction company specializing in highway construction and bridge repair and maintenance, primarily for state and municipal clients in the region.

Souliotis said the boat on which Chagnon was working is one used by the company for bridge-related services.