Franchise owner of Burger King in Jamaica, Restaurant Associates Limited (RAL), says staff members at the restaurant’s New Kingston location, which was damaged by an explosion, followed “proper protocol” and were told it was safe to return to work.

The outlet was the scene of an explosion in the mid-morning (September 11) that left six employees hospitalised, after it was discovered that a defective cooking gas regulator created a gas leak.

“Following a routine delivery of gas supplies to the location, employees reported a strong odour of gas, which was subsequently reported to the service provider,” a statement from RAL read.

“The restaurant was promptly closed to follow the proper protocol, and the service provider returned to the site to address the issue. Before leaving the location, the supplier confirmed it was safe to proceed with business. Shortly thereafter, there was an explosion,” it added.

The company confirmed that while three of six employees showed visible signs of injuries, all of them were taken to a hospital for assessment and treatment.

“This is the first incident of its kind in our over 40 years of operating in Jamaica as Burger King. Thankfully, though, there were no fatalities and our team is recovering under medical attention,” RAL CEO Lisa Lake shared.

She added that she has spoken with most of the employees directly and that the are shaken up as a result of the incident.

RAL added that it is cooperating with the authorities to facilitate a thorough investigation into the incident.

“The priority at this time is tending to the health and safety of those affected. The RAL team wishes to extend its gratitude to early responders on the scene and remains committed to ensuring the safety of everyone at its restaurants,” the company explained.

In the meantime, the Burger King outlet will remain closed until further notice.