DuPont Chemical Plant in La Porte Where Four Workers Died Reported Recent Violations
A plant where four workers died early Saturday after a chemical leak has a record of safety violations that dates back several years, a Texas Tribune review of state records shows.
The DuPont chemical plant in La Porte, 30 miles southeast of Houston, makes products like alcohol resins and a popular insecticide called Lannate. The workers died after an estimated 100 pounds of the chemical methyl mercaptan leaked due to a faulty valve, the company told local media. Methyl mercaptan, a primary component of Lannate, can cause nausea, vomiting, fluid buildup in the lungs and other symptoms; even in small amounts, exposure to it can be deadly.
DuPont spokesman Alan Woods said in an email, "We're working closely with local, state and federal authorities as they conduct a thorough investigation into the incident."
State records show that in the last five years, the plant has been cited at least two dozen times by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for violating state law. It has failed to perform routine safety inspections, keep equipment in proper working order and prevent unauthorized pollution leaks, according to violation notices issued by the agency. In a few instances, the agency demanded fines of a few thousand dollars from DuPont for more serious lapses.
Read more: http://www.texastribune.org/2014/11/16/dupont-plant-where-workers-died-reported-recent-vi/
[font color=green]In a low regulation state such as Texas this will be considered as a cost of doing business.[/font] :sigh:
