UPDATED: One worker was killed and two others were injured Dec. 6 after an accident at a PET resin plant operated by DAK Americas LLC in Gaston, S.C.
The deceased worker was identified as Alton Ziegler, age 63. DAK officials said he had worked at the site for more than 20 years. Injuries to the other two employees were described as “serious” by a company spokesman.
The spokesman described the event as “a serious incident” and said that it occurred shortly after noon on a polymer line that was down for annual maintenance. The line is owned by Eastman Chemical Co. but operated by DAK. Eastman sold the site to DAK in 2011.
“DAK Americas is deeply saddened by this tragic accident and the loss of a valued employee,” the spokesman said in an email. “We continue to keep the families of the DAK employees injured in the incident in our thoughts and prayers.”
Charlotte, N.C.-based DAK is working with authorities to investigate the incident. Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were on site as of Dec. 7.
Eastman had referred to the site as Carolina Eastman. DAK now refers to it as the DAK Americas Columbia Site.