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Three men recovering after suffering burn wounds

A chemical explosion on Aug. 18 sent three men to the hospital
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A chemical explosion at a local car wash in Red Deer sent three men to the hospital on Aug. 18. The trio have undergone skin transplant and plastic surgeris since. (Photo by Mamta Lulla/Red Deer Advocate)

Three men have undergone plastic and skin surgeries mostly on their legs and hips after a flash fire at Lazer Wash on Aug. 18.

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety officials are continuing their investigation to look into the cause of the fire. Spokesperson for Alberta Labour Trent Bancarz said the ministry has two years to finish their investigation.

“We would be looking for things such as equipment being used properly, workers properly trained to use the equipment, were safe procedures being followed [during the investigation],” said Bancarz.

There was a stop-use order on the the barrell and the solvent that were being used during the incident confirmed Bancarz.

Around 3:40 p.m. on Aug. 18, three people were moving a pump from one barrel to another when the incident occurred injurying co-owner Myung Kun Song, an employee and a visitor.

Song is expected to come home sometime this week from Edmonton and the surgeries were successful for all, confirmed co-owner Heebo Jo on Monday.

Jo explained the business is new to both co-owners who have taken ownership since July 10.

“We took over this business recently and we didn’t know all the safety procedures for a car wash,” he added.

Since the flash fire and the stop-use order, the business has taken precautionary health and safety measures to prevent from similar incidents happening in the future.

One of the changes the business has made is to not use any inflammable products and switched out for water-based products that are flame retardant. He added the new products are not harmful and non-toxic.

All the eight workers who are part of the business will receive health and safety training as well as what to do in case of an emergency, he added.

mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com