02:39 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2004

Associated Press

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Authorities are investigating a chemical eruption at McMinnville's Cascade Steel Rolling Mills that injured four workers.

The Monday night explosion occurred on one of the casting lines in the melt shop, said the company's president, Kurt Zetzsche.

"The four workers received burns of varying degrees. It is unclear if the burns were due to exposure to steam or if they were caused by exposure to a chemical eruption. We're looking into that," said Kevin Weeks in the Salem field office of Oregon's Occupational Safety and Health Division.

Zetzsche declined to discuss the nature of the men's injuries but released a statement indicating all four workers are expected to fully recover.

"We are currently investigating all of the factors involved with this accident in order to make sure there is no reoccurrence. An incident of this type is extremely rare," he said.