The cause of the explosion is not yet known

• Explosion slows production
• 'Day-to-day' assessment
• Related stories and sites

February 2, 1999
Web posted at: 8:56 p.m. EST (0156 GMT)

DEARBORN, Michigan (CNN) -- Officials at Ford Motor Co. on Tuesday identified the man killed in an explosion at the giant Ford Rouge plant as Donald Harper, a 58-year-old pipefitter who had been a Ford employee for 35 years

He is survived by his wife, Crystal, and six children -- three sons and three daughters.

Crystal Harper released the following statement through Ford:

"My family and I would like to express our gratitude for all the prayers, expressions of sympathy and the care people have shown us. The (United Auto Workers union) and Ford Motor Co. have been extremely helpful during this time. We would also like to thank the media for respecting our privacy," she said.

Thirty other workers were injured in the power station when a boiler exploded Monday, leaving the entire plant without electricity. Search crews found no other victims Tuesday.

"At this point, we're satisfied there are no additional personnel in the building," said Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Deziel.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the explosion.

Ron Gettelfinger

Engineers worked Tuesday to assess damage from the explosion.

The huge Rouge facility, home of the Ford Mustang and steel operations, also supplies 16 other assembly plants. A prolonged shutdown could have a substantial impact on Ford production.

Some 12,000 workers were idled Tuesday at the Rouge complex.

The lack of electricity meant no work Tuesday for 7,000 Ford workers at the plant and another 3,000 Rouge Steel workers who are not Ford employees.

Another 2,000 Ford employees from the Dearborn Assembly plant that builds Mustangs also were idled.

Operations were also cut back at four other Ford plants supplied by the Rouge facility. Work shifts were cut in half at plants in:

• Wixom, Mich., builds Lincoln Continentals and Town Cars.
• Wayne, Mich., builds Ford Escorts.
• Loraine, Ohio, builds Ford Econoline Vans.
• St. Thomas, Ont., builds Ford F-150 series trucks.

'Day-to-day' assessment

Ford brought back skilled trades workers to the Rouge complex Tuesday, but said many production workers should stay home at least through part of Wednesday.

"A lot of this is a day-to-day kind of thing," said Ford spokesman Frank Sopata.

Union officials applauded Ford's handling of the explosion, and thanked Edsel Ford II, a board member and great-grandson of founder Henry Ford, for attending an employee counseling session Tuesday morning.

UAW Vice President Ron Gettelfinger said Ford is putting people above profits following the tragedy.

"Ford Motor Co. has never raised the issue of production throughout this crisis," said Gettelfinger. "We've started discussion about getting the operations back. They have dealt with the human side of the story, and I want to applaud Ford Motor Co.," he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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