A furnace at Globe Metallurgical exploded at approximately 2:15 p.m. Friday, injuring two employees and causing a possible investigation.

Tony Bradley and Arthur Thicklin where both injured when an approximately 16 feet tall furnace exploded, sending a cloud of dust through the building.

Bradley was transported to UAB, where he was last listed in critical condition.

“We do not know his current condition,” a company spokesperson said.

Thicklin is expected to return to work on Monday. An employee at Globe who declined to be named, said the incident in under investigation. A third employee was injured in an unrelated incident, according to the employee.

Fred Swank, plant manager and company representative, couldn’t be reached for comment. Globe Metallurgical produces silicon and ferrosilicon alloys.

Thicklin said the explosion happened so fast, he wasn’t sure what happened.

“Only thing I knew is the thing exploded,” Thicklin said. “I just remembered I heard a big explosion.”

According to Thicklin, when the furnace exploded, it sent a cloud of dust throughout the plant, limiting vision.

“It sounded like a bomb,” Thicklin said. “When that thing exploded, everything was just dark.”

Thicklin is one of the workers that maintain the furnace.

He burned his shoulder, but he said he’d be returning to work Monday.

“I didn’t get injured that bad,” Thicklin said.

Thicklin was a little shook up, but he’s since recovered.

“I’m not really nervous about it,” Thicklin said. “Right now I’m just good to go. What’s going to happen is going to happen anyway.”