2 auto parts plant workers hospitalized by explosion in Northwood

Faurecia Interior Systems in Northwood manufactures door panels for the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro sport utility vehicles. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Two workers at a Northwood automotive supply plant remained hospitalized Tuesday evening after an explosion on a pre-assembly line, officials said.

The blast occurred about 7:15 a.m. when a hydraulic line malfunctioned at Faurecia Interior Systems Inc., 6307 Fairfield Drive, a company spokesman said.

The two employees were taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center with injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening, said Alvin Tarrent, the plant's United Auto Workers Local 12 committee chairman. The injured workers' names were not released.

One Faurecia employee, Natalie Humphrey, was a few yards from the explosion but was not hurt except for ringing in her ears.

"I was standing right next to [the pre-assembly line] when I heard a loud explosion that sounded like a cannon, " said Ms. Humphrey, 33, who works on the pre-assembly line. "And then I saw two people lying on the ground and black smoke everywhere."

Perry Harris, 59, of Toledo, a Faurecia production line worker of 3 1/2 years who also wasn't hurt, said he was about 200 feet away when he heard a loud explosion. He also reported seeing a lot of black smoke and no flames.

"But there was a strong smell of burned rubber," said Mr. Harris, a member of the plant's UAW Local 12 committee.

Northwood fire crews arrived minutes after the 7:15 blast and saw no flames, a fire dispatcher said. Fire crews transported nine injured workers to the hospital, and seven of them were released by about noon, Mr. Tarrent said.

The victims suffered mostly smoke inhalation and some of them possibly had ear damage as well, Mr. Tarrent said. All were conscious but some appeared disoriented after the explosion.

Ms. Humphrey was one of about a dozen workers who were standing outside the plant three hours after the explosion as union leaders, plant officials, and representatives of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration remained inside, off limits to the media.

The Faurecia plant manufactures interior door panels for the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro.

Katie Hepler, a spokesman for Chrysler, said the Toledo North Assembly Plant, which makes the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro sport utility vehicles, was forced to cancel a scheduled hour of overtime for workers Tuesday, but was otherwise unaffected. Chrysler's plant has about 950 workers.

Mr. Tarrent said the Faurecia plant daily manufactures 700 to 800 sets of interior door panels for four-door vehicles, complete with "all the door guts" for the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro. The parts are delivered on a just-in-time basis to the Chrysler Group LLC's Toledo Assembly complex.

Jule Hovi, area director for the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said the agency is investigating the incident.

Said Mr. Tarrent: "It could be much worse."

Contact Mike Sigov at:

sigov@theblade.com,

or 419-724-6089.