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Louisiana - Two chemical plant explosions in one week leave many people wondering how safe the facilities are

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  • Louisiana - Two chemical plant explosions in one week leave many people wondering how safe the facilities are

    Chemical plant explosion leaves 1 dead, 77 injured, 2 critical

    Posted: Jun 13, 2013 9:10 AM CDT Updated: Jun 14, 2013 12:11 PM CDT
    Posted by WAFB Staff -

    GEISMAR, LA (WAFB) -

    Louisiana officials reported one person died and 77 others were injured when a chemical plant exploded Thursday morning. Two of those injured remain in critical condition.

    The explosion and fire happened at the Williams Olefins plant in Geismar, LA at 8:37 a.m. Louisiana State Police said the fire was put out around 2 p.m. There is still no word on what caused the explosion. Officials with the company will hold a news conference at noon Friday.
    ...
    A total of 26 people remain hospitalized.
    ...
    Col. Mike Edmonson, superintendent of Louisiana State Police, reported every plant employee is accounted for. There were 10 employees who stayed in an explosive-proof control center inside the plant. Their job is to shut down the plant during an emergency. The 10 men have been allowed out of the safe room.
    ...
    According to Williams' website, it provides products to customers in the petrochemical industry. The Geismar plant produces 1.3 billion pounds of ethylene and 90 million pounds of polymer grade propylene, both flammable gases used in industrial chemicals and plastic products. Almost every plastic is ethylene based.
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    Williams Confirms One Fatality, Injuries in Explosion at Geismar, La. Plant; Media Update Planned

    Latest information (updated 9:50 a.m. CDT June 14)

    Williams will provide an update on the plant incident at a press conference at noon today CDT, June 14, at the Ascension Chamber of Commerce (1006 W. Highway 30, Gonzales, LA 70737)

    Williams confirmed that one person died in an explosion and fire yesterday at its Geismar, La. facility. Company officials met with the victim?s family at their home.

    Zachary Green, 29, was an operator at the plant. He started work at Williams last October. Zack will be deeply missed by his friends at the Geismar plant and throughout Williams.

    In addition, the company is closely monitoring the status of one employee and seven contractors who remain hospitalized and are being treated for injuries.

    ?We are grieving for the loss of Zack who was part of our Williams community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time of sorrow. We also remain deeply concerned about Williams? personnel and contractors who sustained injuries, some quite serious,? said Alan Armstrong, Williams? president and chief executive officer.

    ?We are extremely appreciative of the prompt and efficient actions by local and state law enforcement and emergency responders for their assistance in this difficult time. We are focusing all necessary resources on assisting those impacted and determining the cause of the explosion.?

    Williams has deployed grief counselors to the area to meet with personnel and offer assistance.

    The fire has been extinguished and Williams is cooperating with federal, state and local agencies in assessing the situation and determining the cause of the explosion. The extent of damage is unknown at this time.

    Find out how Williams is providing infrastructure that safely delivers natural gas products to fuel a clean energy economy.

  • #2
    Re: Louisiana - Two chemical plant explosions in one week leave many people wondering how safe the facilities are


    Ascension Parish, Louisiana
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascension_Parish,_Louisiana

    OSHA expected to investigate Louisiana plant explosion

    By Associated Press, Published: June 15

    DONALDSONVILLE, La. ? Federal investigators are expected in south Louisiana at the site of an explosion that killed one worker at a chemical plant in Donaldsonville, the second such blast in the area in as many days.
    ...
    Police said Ronald ?Rocky? Morris Jr., 55, of Belle Rose, La., was killed in the blast Friday. He had worked at the plant for 34 years, company officials said.

    CF Industries identified its injured employees as Courtney Julien, Melvin Singleton, Jeramy Worsham and Kade Yarbrough. Three contractor employees also were hurt.
    ...
    CF Industries manufactures ammonia and other nitrogen fertilizers at the Donaldsonville facility. Officials said there were no hazardous materials at the site.

    The company said that the blast occurred about 6 p.m. Friday in a section of the plant that had been shut down for maintenance and that there was no fire, chemical release or threat to the community.
    ...
    Just miles away Thursday, two people were killed and dozens were injured in an explosion at a chemical plant in Geismar owned by Williams Cos. Donaldsonville and Geismar are both in Ascension Parish and straddle the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
    ...

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    Plant safety in focus after two explosions

    Updated: Jun 17, 2013 6:14 PM CDT
    Written by: Rob Masson

    Geismar, La. -

    Two chemical plant accidents in one week leave many people wondering how safe the facilities are.

    Production at CF Industries in Donaldsonville remained shut down Monday, after an incident Friday killed one person and injured seven others. That accident happened a day after a fatal chemical plant blast in Geismar.

    OSHA workers are now conducting one of three investigations, running plant officials through emergency drills after the worst accident at CF in 13 years.
    ...

    Full text:
    Production at CF Industries in Donaldsonville remained shut down Monday, after an incident Friday killed one person and injured seven others. That accident happened a day after a fatal chemical plant blast in Geismar.

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