A metal worker has serious burns after an explosion at the Nyrstar zinc works in Hobart.
The 34-year-old man has been taken to Royal Hobart Hospital with serious burns to his body following what police say was a "suspected spontaneous explosion" at 1am on Sunday.
He was working in the electrolysis department at the plant, which extracts zinc from purified zinc sulfate by passing an electric current through the solution in a series of cells.
Worksafe Tasmania is also investigating and Nyrstar says it will work "closely with all relevant authorities in addition to its own investigation."
"There is nothing Nyrstar places higher value on than the health and safety of its workforce and support is being provided for the co-workers and family of the injured worker," a Nyrstar spokeswoman said in a statement on Sunday.
The Hobart plant is one of the largest world's largest zinc smelters in terms of production and employs about 600 people.
