On 9 December 2000 at about 2.30am, an explosion occurred at a utility steam boiler at the petrochemical complex of Exxon Chemical Singapore. Four workers, who were working in the vicinity of the boiler, were injured in the incident. Three of them (Singaporeans) were in critical condition with 50% to 60% burn injuries. They are warded in the Burns Unit of Singapore General Hospital. The other worker’s injury was less severe and he received outpatient treatment.

Preliminary investigation revealed that at the time of the accident, the boiler operators were trying to switch on an additional source of fuel supply to the boiler. While they were doing so, a flash fire followed by an explosion occurred inside the furnace of the boiler. This resulted in the collapse of the boiler structure and high-pressure steam was released. A fire also broke out around the boiler area.

Investigators from the Ministry of Manpower are currently at the scene of the accident to establish the cause(s) of the incident. Operations of the affected boiler and another adjacent utility steam boiler have been stopped for investigation purposes.