Fife pair's Raytheon factory accident injuries described as 'life changing'
Investigations are continuing into an explosion at a Glenrothes engineering factory which seriously injured two men.
- Published in the Courier : 07.12.11
- Published online : 07.12.11 @ 02.02pm
Steven Delargey (48), from Kirkcaldy, and 22-year-old Glenrothes man Russell Brand suffered serious burns to their faces and hands in the incident at Raytheon Systems on Monday.
Mr Delargey, originally from Leslie, and Mr Brand, a former pupil at Auchmuty High School, Glenrothes, are electricians with local firm CF Electrical Services.
They had been carrying out maintenance on one of the factory's distribution boards when something fell and caused the explosion.
After receiving emergency treatment at the scene, firstly from firefighters and then from paramedics, the men were rushed under police escort to Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, where they remained in intensive care on Tuesday.
It is believed that, as well as burns, the men may have suffered some damage to their airways.
They were said to be sedated and in a stable condition and, although their injuries are not thought to be life threatening, they have been described as ''life changing''.
A third man was also taken to hospital where he was treated for smoke inhalation and then released. He has since returned to work.
The 560 employees at Raytheon, which supplies to the defence, automotive and space industries, were evacuated after the accident shortly after noon while firefighters entered the building to check whether there was a fire.
They quickly discovered that if there had been it had been extinguished prior to their arrival.
Production at the plant on Queensway Industrial Estate was able to resume after an hour and a half.
Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive began initial inquiries into the incident on Monday afternoon. A full investigation could take several weeks or even months to complete.
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