Number of injured from Irving refinery explosion higher than initial reports

The number of workers injured in the explosion and fire at the Irving Oil refinery in Saint John on Monday is higher than the four initially reported.

Familydoctor Mike Simon says he treated five workers that day alone,including two who were thrown by the blast.

Heexpected to see at least six more injured by the explosion or fallout by the end of the day Wednesday.

And there could be many more with psychological scars, Simon said.

"It's almost like you're being in a war zone, right? Because suddenly, the explosion, a lot of guys are running for their life.

"It's extremely scary 'cause you're in a situation, you don't know what's going to happen.Big bang, the force knocking you over, you know, blowing your hard hat off your head, blowing your desk around, throwing you off a chair. You know, it's significant. So these are real-life events."

Irving Oil and Saint John Emergency Measures Organization officials have said four workers were treated at the Saint John Regional Hospital for minor injuries after the 10:15 a.m. blastthatsent flames shootingan estimated 30 metres high and left a plume of black smoke billowing over the city's east side for hours.

The Horizon Health Network has said the hospital treated five people for non-life-threatening injuries that day, but declined to elaborate, citing patient confidentiality.

Officials have not provided any updates on injured workers since Tuesday, but WorksafeNB'sassistant director of investigations suggested Wednesday "the number seems to be growing."

Eric Brideau, who visiting the site Tuesday and met with employees,said he could not confirm the total number of workers injured.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, but officials believe it stemmed from a malfunction in the unit that removes sulphur from diesel.

Brideaudescribed the investigation as "technical and complex." He expects it will taketwo to three months to complete.

The Irving Oil refineryis the largestin Canada. It employs about 1,400 people and is capable of producing more than 320,000 barrels per dayat the sprawling site, which covers more than 300 hectares.

Close to 3,000 people were working at the time of the holiday Thanksgiving explosion because ofa massive turnaround maintenance project that's underway.About 100 of themwere the normal operations crew, while the rest were contracted tradespeople from across New Brunswick and other provinces.

Variety of injuries

Simon, who's the go-to doctor for some of the contractorcompanies,says contractors at the site called him about an hour after the fiery explosion, asking him to open his office in the city's north end for incoming patients.

"There was a fellow [who] hurt his ear because the blast sort of hit him on the side. There was a guy who was blown off a ladder and twisted his ankle.

"There was a guy, who again, was blown off his desk, and fell into a railing and he had somecontusions, injuries on his arm.

"Another guy, a little bit of inhalation injury because of the smoke and the dust and stuff from the explosion, he was very close to the blast. And he hurt his shoulder as well. Mostly musculoskeletal things like that."

Boilermaker describes refinery explosion

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Boilermaker Terry MacEachern was rattled by Monday's blast at Irving Oil facility, but is ready to return to the job.

Simon said treating less serious injuries at his office helped free upthe emergency roomto deal with anything more serious that came up and savedthe workers from facing long waits.

The Saint John Regional Hospital went into"code orange" after the explosion was reported,meaning it wasprepared for a possible mass casualties influx.

"They plan for these events well in advance" and runmock drills, said Simon, who has worked in the emergency room over the years.

There are protocols about calling in extra doctors and nurses, if necessary, as well as administrative and janitorial staff, and surgical specialists would be on-call, he said.

It takes a while for that shock to sort of percolate through somebody.- Mike Simon, family doctor

Trauma rooms would be prepped, patients discharged to clear beds, and medications readily available.

"So you're going to get the best care available in the 21st century."

Simon said it could take a few days for workers to even realize they're injured after such a traumatic incident.

"It happens so quick. And it's shock effect. And so it takes a while for that shock to sort of percolate through somebody."

As their experience sinks in, some mightfind they're having nightmares or struggling with worries, he said, calling it "normal human nature."

"You get hit in the arm, you get a contusion or a cut, that's the way the arm heals. You get a shock value like this, it takes a while for your brain to bounce back too."

He encouragesthe affected workers to seek counselling or at least find someone they can talk to as they work their way throughany issues.

With files from Rachel Cave