MANOR, Texas – First responders in the Austin area rushed to the scene of an explosion at a construction site on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS), three ambulances were dispatched to the 10400 block of North FM 973, near Braker Lane, around 1:15 p.m. for a reported “burn/explosion” incident related to a water tank construction site.
Three patients were involved in the explosion, with Travis County STAR Flight transporting one patient to Dell Seton Medical Center with serious, potentially life-threatening injuries. The other two patients sustained serious, but not life-threatening injuries, and potentially serious, not life-threatening injuries, respectively. The response to the incident also included assistance from Manor ESD 12.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) confirmed that they are aware of the incident and are currently investigating the matter. As of now, no additional information about the cause of the explosion is available.
The incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers and risks involved in construction and industrial work. It also highlights the crucial role of first responders in providing immediate assistance and medical care to those affected by such incidents.
OSHA’s involvement underscores the importance of ensuring workplace safety and adherence to regulations in the construction industry. The investigation will likely focus on identifying the cause of the explosion and implementing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The collaborative response from various first responder units demonstrates the coordinated efforts and resources necessary to effectively manage such emergency situations. This incident emphasizes the need for ongoing training and preparedness among first responders to handle and mitigate the impact of industrial accidents.
The community and the construction industry will be awaiting further updates from OSHA regarding the findings of their investigation and any potential safety recommendations or protocols that may result from this unfortunate incident.