The Truth Hardware worker who suffered severe chemical burns after 300 gallons of sulfuric acid spilled at the plant in Owatonna Monday afternoon remains in the burn unit at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, according to hospital staff Friday.

The man, Albert Lean Ron Walk Jr., was injured after a valve broke off on a container holding the acid just before 5:30 p.m. Monday. His condition is unknown.

Owatonna Fire Chief Mike Johnson said sulfuric acid is a strong irritant and burns the skin upon contact. It can also lead to irritation in the respiratory tract.

The fire chief said when emergency personnel responded, Walk was immediately decontaminated, treated by Gold Cross paramedics and transported to Owatonna Hospital.

He was later flown by helicopter to the burn center at Regions Hospital.

Two other workers were also treated at the Owatonna Hospital for respiratory irritation, Johnson noted.

The fire chief said other employees were evacuated from the plant after the spill, and the road to the plant, along with other nearby roads, were closed.

A state hazardous materials team came to assist Owatonna firefighters and the company’s own chemical response team with neutralizing the chemical.

Johnson said he did not have any information about why the valve broke or if an investigation from another entity is being conducted into the matter.

Truth Hardware, which has two facilities in Owatonna, along with an additional plant in Ontario, Canada, manufactures hardware for windows and doors. According to its website, it is the leading hardware manufacturer in North America.

It has been in operation for more than 50 years.

The Tribune left a message at Truth Hardware, but the call was not immediately returned.