Garbage truck explosion sends shrapnel into worker’s eye after oxygen tanks implode

A sanitation worker was hospitalised after shrapnel became lodged in his eye following a garbage truck explosion.

Footage captures the moment the truck’s compactor blew up as two workers were loading garbage cans into the vehicle.

One is sent flying to the ground, suffering from both a concussion and an eye injury after a piece of shrapnel became lodged in his eye. It has since been removed.

“We are very fortunate that he was wearing his safety glasses,” said Rick Meyers, the Department of Public Works sanitation manager in Milwaukee.

Officials said that the explosion was caused by two improperly disposed oxygen tanks, which are prohibited from being placed in the bin. Two additional oxygen tanks were later discovered inside the truck.