Officials announced that the failure of a facility machine at the Givaudan Sense Colour plant in the Clifton neighborhood was the cause of an explosion last week that killed two employees and injured several others.
During a Monday morning news conference, Louisville Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow said the failure of a cooking vessel on the south side of the facility in the 1900 block of Payne Street led to a “catastrophic event,” which has been ruled accidental.
“We interviewed several employees who were present, who provided important information about what they observed prior to the incident,” he said. “Although the investigation is not final … we’re comfortable with the information we have to say this incident was an accidental event.”
He continued, saying the Louisville ATF, along with the national response team and Louisville Division of Fire arson division, are investigating, and have completed more than 135 interviews and canvassed nearly 200 properties. The plant was released back to the owners on Sunday, Morrow said, as there’s no ongoing threat to public safety.
Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill previously said that no hazardous material was released into the air following the explosion, which resulted in a dozen people being taken to a hospital, including one who died while hospitalized. A second person who died was found in the building just after midnight after a miscommunication led Givaudan to “believe that all individuals were accounted for.
The explosion could be heard from miles away, and firefighters were on the scene in about three minutes, O’Neill previously said, and a shelter-in-place order in a one-mile radius was in effect for about an hour after the blast. Several homes and local businesses were also damaged.
Louisville Metro Emergency Services Executive Director Jody Meiman added about 300 emergency calls were received in the aftermath, about triple the amount the city would receive in that time on a normal day.
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An explosion at the plant in April 2003 killed one worker and triggered a “massive release of aqua ammonia,” The Courier Journal reported. The plant was operated by D.D. Williamson & Co. at the time of that explosion, which was later found to have been caused by an over-pressurized feed tank. It reopened later that year and has since been bought by Givaudan.
Givaudan, which produces food coloring, was issued two citations last year by the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District — one over failure to submit annual reports and to monitor and record equipment ranges, and another over failure to submit notices of excess emissions, as required by district regulations. Both cases were resolved through settlements with the district for a combined sum of $7,500.
Reporters Eleanor McCrary, Lucas Aulbach, Killian Baarlaer, Connor Giffin and Leo Bertucci contributed to this article. Contact breaking news reporter Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Givaudan plant explosion: Officials rule blast accidental
