Figure 1 – Flammable and toxic gas leaking from the DuPont chemical plant in La Porte, Texas on November 15, 2014. Photo credit: www.TexasTribune.org.
A release of highly toxic and flammable gas called Methyl Mercaptan was released on November 15, 2014, at a plant in La Porte, Texas. The release of the gas resulted in the death of four employees and severe injuries to other plant workers. The facility was owned by DuPont. DuPont was fined twelve million dollars for criminal negligence, ordered to serve two years of probation, and required to donate four million dollars to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
According to the prosecutors and an indictment, Sandel and DuPont had failed to implement a necessary procedure to evaluate the risk of rerouting the toxic gas into a waste gas pipe system during the day before the incident. Additionally, the unit where the leak occurred had inadequate ventilation and air monitors, and procedures were being ignored that would have restricted worker access to unventilated areas.
DuPont plant used Methyl Mercaptan, a toxic chemical, in the company’s insecticide and fungicide manufacturing process. Exposure to Methyl Mercaptan causes immediate irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The safety of chemical plant employees should be the highest priority in the chemical industry due to the rise in chemical accidents in recent years. Chemical companies need to be held accountable for implementing safety requirements and procedures to help protect the people from these dangerous accidents. Not only does this protect the employees of the chemical plant, but it also further prevents our communities and environment from being harmfully affected.
If you or someone you know has suffered due to a chemical accident, contact an experienced attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling 713-222-7211 or toll-free at 1-800-870-9584.