The recent explosion and fire at the Dow Chemical facility in Plaquemine, Louisiana, underscore the potential risks and hazards associated with the chemical industry. According to the preliminary incident report from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), five ‘bullet tanks’ were involved in the fire, typically used to store volatile chemicals like fuels. The resulting deluge to extinguish the fire overflowed the containment area, draining into a canal that led to Dow’s Mississippi River outfall.
Water sampling after the event detected elevated levels of the hazardous compound ethylene oxide, a volatile and flammable substance used in manufacturing a broad range of consumer and industrial products, including detergents and disinfectants. However, discrepancies in testing results from two different labs, with one reporting ethylene oxide levels at 39 parts per million (ppm), while a retest at another on-site laboratory showed a maximum of 0.1 ppm, prompted further investigation and testing by Dow, including third-party testing.
As Dow and the LDEQ strive to contain the situation and protect the community, it’s clear that rigorous safety measures, comprehensive testing, and transparent, timely communication are critical in these scenarios. The incident is a stark reminder of the need for continual vigilance in industries like chemical manufacturing, where the stakes are incredibly high.
Those touched by an industrial accident should know their legal rights and remedies, and act quickly to preserve them. Our attorneys have extensive experience in cases involving industrial and plant personal injury and wrongful death, including those caused by equipment malfunctioning. The firm has experience in courts across the country and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or as a result of an explosion, or been seriously injured.
The experienced attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of an accident at a plant or refinery. Please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your legal rights.