SALT LAKE CITY — Two days after a pipe accident scalded 12 construction workers who were working on a line at the University of Utah, only one remains in critical condition.
As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration continues to investigate what caused boiling-hot water to flow through the pipe Nov. 1, causing the steam to burn 12, some severely, many of those injured were released from the hospital as of Wednesday.
University Hospital received seven total patients, including the three most critical, two of whom were upgraded to good condition within about 24 hours, said Kathy Wilets, spokeswoman for University of Utah Health Care and Health Sciences. As of Wednesday afternoon, four of the University Hospital patients had been discharged.
Wilets said of the three patients remaining in the hospital's burn unit, two are in good condition and one is still critical. No victims are talking to the media at this point.
It is believed five others who were burned were transported to Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, but spokeswoman Tammy Clark would not confirm how many patients that hospital received.
"Salt Lake Regional Medical Center treated several patients who were brought to the ER as a result of this incident," Clark said in a statement. "Due to the patients' desire not to be interviewed and patient confidentiality, this is all the information we are able to release at this time."
Russell Baker, president of Thermal West Industrial Inc., said nine of the company's employees sustained injuries and that four of those employees have been discharged from the hospital. Another five remain in the hospital, and Baker reported that one of them remains in critical condition.
Thermal West is part of a team building a new high-temperature thermal system at the university. The crews were inside a utility vault working on pipes that were supposed to be empty and not in use.
It is believed the other three employees worked for KK Mechanical, but those at the company said they wouldn't comment on the incident, even to confirm or deny employment. The patient conditions are unknown.
Contributing: Associated Press
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