Police say propane gas built up inside a welding tank at Liberty Steel Fabricating Inc. and when employee Dustin Gaul sparked his welding torch, the gas exploded. Other employees quickly turned off welding tanks and electricity to avoid a larger, more catastrophic explosion.
The blast that rocked the facility killed Gaul, 25, and was strong enough to blow a 130-pound piece of metal into the roof of the structure, causing significant damage.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) is investigating.
