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Two injured in graphite explosion

By Rebekah Sungala 2 min read

GEORGES TWP. – Two Mypodiamond, Inc. employees were flown to Pittsburgh hospitals after a shell filled with graphite exploded in their faces Friday afternoon. Neither of the men were believed to have life-threatening injuries, said Haydentown Assistant Fire Chief Mike Bartko, but were flown to the hospitals as a precaution.

Bartko said emergency personnel were concerned that the men, who remained unidentified as of press time, inhaled the graphite when it exploded. Both men also sustained burns, he said.

The explosion, which occurred at 1:35 p.m., shut down the Fayette Business Park where Mypodiamond is located for approximately two hours while Fayette County HAZMAT crews worked to make sure the area was safe.

Mypodiamond is one of only two U.S. companies that produces synthetic industrial diamond. Industrial grade diamonds, those that do not meet gem-quality standards, are used as an abrasive in grinding, drilling, cutting and polishing.

Graphite is an elemental carbon used to produce industrial grade diamonds because of its unique blend of properties and is also used to produce ammunition, batteries, electronic devices, paints, polishes and magnetic tape, among other items.

Bartko said the men, who he estimated were 25 and 35 years old respectively, were loading a shell casing when the graphite exploded.

“We don’t know why it exploded.

“That’s the part being investigated,” he said.

Bartko said there was “no fire and smoke” and said he didn’t know if other employees were near the graphite when it exploded, but said he didn’t think any other people were injured.

Because Mypodiamond uses explosive elements, Bartko said the company had an emergency plan in place and said everything went smoothly.

“We’ve done drills here before in case something like this should happen,” he said.

A representative from Mypodiamond could not be reached for comment.

In addition to Haydentown, fire departments from Collier, Smithfield and Fairchance also responded, as well as ambulance crews from Uniontown and Fairchance.

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