A forklift driver is being hailed as a hero after a fatal accident.

Dickson Fire Commander Richard Greer says James Bruce Mitchell saved others in shutting off a chemical leak, but a subsequent explosion claimed his life.

"Mr. Mitchell saved many lives by quick thinking," Greer tells Forkliftaction.com News.

Mitchell, 60, was operating a Towmotor forklift "and accidentally hit a pipe which is used to move Toluene from place to place" in the printing plant, Greer says. "It tore off the shut-off valve, leaking product on him and the forklift. He went up a flight of stairs, cut off the leak at a secondary shut-off and drove the forklift to a shower area. Before he was able to dismount the forklift, the product vapours found an outside unknown ignition source and exploded." Typically, clear water-insoluble Toluene smells like paint thinner.

Mitchell was a stacker in the press department at the Quad/Graphics Inc commercial printing production facility, known earlier as the Quebecor World Dickson plant, and had worked there for more than two decades. The explosion caused burns on about 98% of Mitchell's body.

Beyond loss of the forklift, there was "no structural damage to the facility other than (the need for) some touch up painting and cleaning", Greer reports.

A funeral service for Mitchell is scheduled on 21 August in the Taylor Funeral Home chapel in Dickson. Survivors include his wife, two daughters and a grandson. The Diverse Community Church in Dickson is accepting memorial donations, and Quad/Graphics is establishing a memorial fund.