COEYMANS – One worker at the Port of Coeymans was taken to the burn unit at Westchester Hospital on Sunday, Aug. 27 and another to Albany Medical Center.
According to Coeymans Fire Chief Mark Deyo, what exactly happened is still under investigation but there was “some sort of flash fire” in the mechanical room of a ship where the two were working.
One worker, who was flown to Westchester, had burns on all four of his limbs, Deyo said. The second had burns on both his hands.
“It could have been worse,” Deyo said. “They could have been in a confined spot and could have been more difficult to get them out.”
An EMS squad was the first on the scene, Deyo said, and the two either made it out of the ship on their own or the crew helped them.
Albany County EMS, Coeymans EMS as well as the Coeymans and Ravena fire departments, responded.
Deyo said the Port of Coeymans will investigate and the federal Occupational Safety and Heath Administration may also look into the incident.
The identities of the two workers are not available. Port of Coeymans officials say the two were not employees of the port, but worked for a shipping company with a vessel docked at port unloading salt.
Photos and reporting by Tom Heffernan Sr.
