Abstract: A tinter oven used to dry flock and form coatings was shut down for cleaning/blow down. The oven was fueled by natural gas, which ignited inside the oven and caused an explosion. Employees #1 and #2, who were standing in front of the oven door, were burned and blown several feet. Employee #3, who was walking away from the oven when the explosion occurred, was also burned and blown several feet. The gas leaked into the oven through a defective solenoid gas valve. The ignition source has not been determined. During an earlier shift, a supervisor detected a gaseous odor in the area. A smaller, second explosion occurred shortly after the first explosion. Its cause also could not be identified.