Plumber injured in drain cleaner mishap

By Kate Augusto, Globe Correspondent

A plumber suffered first- and second-degree chemical burns this morning when he was splashed with the drain cleaner he was using to unclog a drain in a customer’s sink in Westwood, fire officials said.

Firefighters responded to a home on Gloucester Street at around 9:30 a.m., finding the man with burns on his face and arms, said Westwood Deputy Fire Chief Roderick Morrison. A hazardous materials team was called as well.

Morrison said the man, whose name he did not know, was using Green Blaster drain opener, a commercial product used by plumbers. The powder is mixed with hot water and then poured down a drain to unclog it.

“Somehow it came back up,” Morrison said. “We haven’t been able to figure out why yet.”

The man suffered second degree burns around his eyes and forehead and first degree burns around his arms, Morrison said.

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