On December 29, 2016, three USW members of local 13-391 were injured while working at International paper in Orange, TX. The complete details are not known at this time but preliminary information is that the employees were taking a refractometer out of a black liquor line and the refractometer blew out. One of the employees was in the process of removing a K-Patent Process Refractometer from a black liquor line for a routine six month cleaning with two other co-workers. During the cleaning, 247-degree black liquor unexpectedly blew out of the line. One of the employees was burnt badly around his neck and upper body. Another received a burn on his forearm; and the third employee received an eye injury. 

  The employee who received burns to his neck and upper body was transported to Memorial Hospital in Houston, TX. The employee who received burns to his eye was transported to Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, TX. The third employee who received burns to his forearm was treated and returned to work. 

 Emergency Response Team District 13 Coordinator, Lee Morine, will assist the families.  Health Safety and Environment Staff, Steve Sallman, will assist the local with the investigation.