Contractor killed at Glouco refinery

A 63-year-old contractor was fatally struck in the head while working at an oil refinery in Gloucester County on Friday, officials say.

Gary Grimming was killed instantly when an air compressor line broke, striking him in the head, at the PBF Energy Paulsboro refinery about 9:30 a.m., the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said.

Grimming was a contractor with G.C. Zarnas & Co., which was sandblasting a tank at the refinery, officials said. The refinery sits in Greenwich Township.

Zarnas does "specialty coating applications," painting, fireproofing, and waterproofing, as well as industrial cleaning, according to the company's website. A request for comment from the Bethlehem, Pa.-based company was not immediately returned Friday.

The refinery processes crude oils and produces gasoline, heating oil, and aviation jet fuel.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating, agency spokeswoman Leni Fortson said.