Aug. 30, 2008
Major Explosions Rock Bayer Plant at Institute
Formerly Owned by Union Carbide; One Worker Dead
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Institute, WV (HNN) – Depending upon your source, one or more explosions ripped through the Bayer CropScience Chemical Plant at Institute at around 10:25 p.m. Thursday, August 28. People as far away as Boone and Cabell Counties heard the explosion. Some in Wayne County spoke of a foul odor that followed.
Kanawha County officials hurriedly ordered a shelter in place; however, a conflicting report surfaced concerning an evacuation. It proved false.
Plant officials have called the circumstances a best case scenario: The flammable waste material that burned was not toxic. In fact, the burning and the water on the fire likely helped diffuse the chemicals.
As of Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, the following chemicals have been identified as involved in the explosion:
The Charleston Gazette quoted Mike Dorsey, chief of homeland security and emergency response for the state Department of Environmental Protection, stating “the thing the blew up was the least dangerous of the stuff that’s there.”
A team from the federal Chemical Safety Board have arrived in Charleston as well as inspectors from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
According to plant spokesman, a crew had been working near a three or four story structure where waste products from production of the chemical are processed. Barry Withrow, of Cross Lanes, WV, died in the fire, and another still unidentified worker suffered burns and has been transported in critical condition to a Pittsburgh burn center. :
As clean up and inspections begin, one statement sticks out --- the fire occurred near the same or location to one that happened in the 90s.
Although the plant has changed hands, it still racked up numerous governmental fines from inspections. The plant had been free of accidents for the last two years.
Originally, the U.S. government built the plant in 1943 for the manufacture of rubber during World War II.
The plant which also manufactures MIC ( Methyl isocyanate ), the chemical whose release in 1984 killed thousands in India. Located in close proximity to West Virginia State University, students were ordered to shelter in place inside their dorms, including turning off of air conditioning.
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Major Explosions Rock Bayer Plant at Institute
Formerly Owned by Union Carbide; One Worker Dead
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Institute, WV (HNN) – Depending upon your source, one or more explosions ripped through the Bayer CropScience Chemical Plant at Institute at around 10:25 p.m. Thursday, August 28. People as far away as Boone and Cabell Counties heard the explosion. Some in Wayne County spoke of a foul odor that followed.
Kanawha County officials hurriedly ordered a shelter in place; however, a conflicting report surfaced concerning an evacuation. It proved false.
Plant officials have called the circumstances a best case scenario: The flammable waste material that burned was not toxic. In fact, the burning and the water on the fire likely helped diffuse the chemicals.
As of Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, the following chemicals have been identified as involved in the explosion:
- Methyl isobutyl ketone (See Separate Health Report with Download)However, HNN emphasizes that representatives of the State EPA, the plant and State Fire Marshal’s office all indicate that no toxins escaped into the air beyond the plant. The plant has detectors and the government agencies also monitored the circumstances. Lack of wind also helped contain the chemicals.
- Dimethyl disulfide:: Health effects can include irritation of eyes and skin, producing cough, sore throat and nausea ; For further data, click: http://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_236060.html
- Hexane: Readily explosive when mixes with air, low flash point; may cause impaired fertility; harmful by inhalation. For further data, click: http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/HE/hexane.html
- Methomyl (which is a toxic pesticide, plant officials state that no toxins were released due to decomposition reaction.) :Classified as a Restricted Use Pesticide due to high acute toxicity to humans. For more data, click: http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/haloxyfop-methylparathion/methomyl-ext.html
The Charleston Gazette quoted Mike Dorsey, chief of homeland security and emergency response for the state Department of Environmental Protection, stating “the thing the blew up was the least dangerous of the stuff that’s there.”
A team from the federal Chemical Safety Board have arrived in Charleston as well as inspectors from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
According to plant spokesman, a crew had been working near a three or four story structure where waste products from production of the chemical are processed. Barry Withrow, of Cross Lanes, WV, died in the fire, and another still unidentified worker suffered burns and has been transported in critical condition to a Pittsburgh burn center. :
As clean up and inspections begin, one statement sticks out --- the fire occurred near the same or location to one that happened in the 90s.
Although the plant has changed hands, it still racked up numerous governmental fines from inspections. The plant had been free of accidents for the last two years.
Originally, the U.S. government built the plant in 1943 for the manufacture of rubber during World War II.
The plant which also manufactures MIC ( Methyl isocyanate ), the chemical whose release in 1984 killed thousands in India. Located in close proximity to West Virginia State University, students were ordered to shelter in place inside their dorms, including turning off of air conditioning.
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