Loading ...Landfill employee burned
Photo property of Tremonton Leader
A 25-year-old female employee working at the Box Elder County landfill suffered serious, but not life-threatening burns on her arms, face and chest Thursday morning and was transported by Life Flight helicopter to the University of Utah Burn Center.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Kevin Potter said the accident occurred just before 9:30 a.m., at the Little Mountain location. The employee was apparently filling the fuel tank on the compactor with diesel when a flash fire resulted in second degree burns to her arms, shoulder and face. Fellow employees were able to administer first aid to the victim until Tremonton ambulance personnel arrived on scene.
The woman was transported to Bear River Valley Hospital before being flown to Salt Lake City. Her name is not yet being released.
A team of detectives was at the landfill within minutes to gather information about the accident and to determine the cause of the fire. Potter said Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will also be looking at the scene for any safety violations.
