Explosion at Kaiser Aluminum Linked to Power Interruption
According to a statement released by the company, "This power interruption could not be remedied in a timely manner and resulted in an overpressure situation and explosion, believed to have been initiated in the last sealed vessel (blow-off tank) in the plant's digestion area."
The blasts injured 24 workers, several seriously, and sent at least 100 residents to the hospital complaining of nausea, skin and eye irritation, and respiratory problems. The explosions damaged or destroyed a number of tanks where bauxite, an aluminum ore, is mixed with liquid sodium hydroxide, a caustic chemical. The resulting airborne mist spread as far as a mile from the facility. Emergency crews warned residents to stay inside with their doors and windows closed for several hours following the explosions.
During the course of its ongoing investigation, Kaiser also identified certain other conditions that were present at the time of the incident but declined to mention what they were. The company continues to investigate the explosion, and the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is conducting its own investigation.
George T. Haymaker Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Aluminum, said, "First and foremost, we are pleased that the health of our injured employees is improving. All of us at Kaiser send our best wishes for a speedy and full recovery, and we continue to offer any help we can provide to them and their families. The company also wishes to thank the local community and a number of state agencies for their extraordinary support as the company has addressed clean up, recovery, and rebuild issues."
Haymaker said the company's health consultants have advised it that the incident posed no health threat to the surrounding community. "This has been a difficult experience," Haymaker continued, "and we are taking steps to prevent such an incident from ever occurring again in a Kaiser facility."
He noted that Gramercy has historically ranked among Kaiser's safest plants, adding that at the time of the incident, employees with extensive experience were operating the equipment in the digestion area. Haymaker said the company intends to rebuild the Gramercy facility. He said that as far as he knows, the financial impact of the explosion will be "largely offset by insurance coverage."