GRAND RAPIDS (WWJ) - Two employees at a West Michigan plant are recovering after one fell into a container of hazardous material and the other jumped to the rescue on Friday.
According to the Grand Rapids Fire Department via WOOD 8, crews were sent to the Advance Plating and Finishing on Cottage Grove Street in Grand Rapids after receiving a hazmat call around 1:20 p.m. on May 5.
When they arrived at the scene, they found two injured employees being showered off by coworkers.
Fire Capt. Bill Smith said one employee had fallen into a container of sodium hydroxide, also known as lye. Lye is a “caustic liquid,” Smith explained, a very strong acid that if one comes into contact with, can cause severe burns with deep ulcerations.
Smith said the worked that fell into the lye sustained critical injuries.
The second employee was injured when he went to pull the other worker out of the container, Smith said to WOOD 8.
“The rescuer grabbed the first victim and suffered chemical burns,” Smith said. “Both were transported to the hospital.”
It is unknown how the first employee came to fall into the container, but Smith said officials with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Associated were notified.