Contractor pays settlement for installing vessel that exploded at Givaudan without permit
Cochran Mechanical, LLC, the Elizabethtown-based contractor that installed the vessel that ultimately exploded and left two workers dead and several others injured, agreed to pay the settlement, "secure a permit" and "schedule and follow through with all required inspections" to resolve the violation with the Kentucky Department of Housing, Building and Construction, according to a signed copy of the settlement.
Prior to installing a vessel, contractors are required to obtain an installation permit, which notifies the department that an inspection needs to be performed. That never happened for the vessel that exploded and another vessel at the site, according to an investigation report written by Chief Boiler Inspector Mark Jordan.
Meaghan Schneider, an attorney for a law firm Cochran Mechanical, LLC hired to represent the company as the investigation into the Givaudan explosion unfolds, noted the vessel was installed in 2021, adding that it's unlikely the permitting violation had anything to do with the explosion.
The vessel's exact installation date is unclear. Records indicate it, along with the other vessel not inspected, were installed sometime after July 12, 2021, when a shop tasked with repairing them obtained repair permits from the commonwealth. There are no permitting or inspection records for the vessels since then, according to department records.
Jonathon "Max" Fuller, the department's commissioner, also wrote a letter to the Jefferson County Attorney's Criminal Division notifying the office of criminal penalties that could be brought against Givaudan, the plant operator. The letter explains that operating a pressure vessel in Kentucky without a valid certificate of inspection is a Class B misdemeanor and that each day in violation counts as a separate offense.
Fuller's letter says he reached out because his department does not have authority over the plant operator.
"Should you wish to pursue criminal penalties, the Department stands ready to assist," the letter reads.
A spokesperson from Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell's office did not say whether the office plans to pursue criminal charges.
"Our office is not an investigative agency. The Jefferson County Attorney's Office routinely reviews materials submitted by investigative agencies for potential criminal charges and takes appropriate action," said Josh Abner, a spokesperson for the office.
Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Givaudan explosion: Vessel installer settles with Kentucky
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
an hour ago
- Epoch Times
FTC Sues Ticket Broker for Allegedly Exceeding Purchase Limit for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Key Investment Group and its affiliated companies on Aug. 18, alleging that they evaded ticket purchase limits for live events—such as Taylor Swift's Eras Tour—and resold those tickets at inflated prices. In its complaint, the FTC alleged that the Maryland-based ticket broker and its affiliated companies—which operate under brand names such as Epic Seats and Totally Tix—used thousands of fake Ticketmaster accounts and other illegal tactics to bypass security measures designed to prevent buyers from exceeding ticket purchasing limits.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Arizona woman beaten unconscious by man during concert at Rose Bowl
An Arizona woman who did not want to be identified is recovering after a brutal beating over the weekend at a sold-out concert in Pasadena's Rose Bowl Stadium that was captured on video and has since gone viral. The frightening ordeal unfolded Saturday night after the victim and her fiancé drove hours from Phoenix to see the Grammy Award winning electronic band RÜFÜS DU SOL. It's unclear what time exactly the incident unfolded, but the victim told KTLA that when she and her friend got to their seats, they accidentally spilled a bit of a drink on a man in front of them. 'We apologized immediately, but he yelled that it was intentional and ran off, leaving his companion behind,' she told The Festive Owl, a music news outlet who first reported the woman's story. 'We apologized to her and thought it was over.' Unfortunately, unidentified concertgoer returned about a half hour later, began screaming at the victim and her friends, threatening violence and while she said she tried deescalating the situation by apologizing again, the man punched her in the face, knocking her unconscious and causing significant bleeding. In footage of the violent attack, the man is seen launching into a group of people and throwing at least five punches, while someone behind him attempts to pull him out of the crowd. At one point in the video, the victim can be seen sitting on the ground, head tilted down as her fiancé, who also reportedly took some blows to the head, attempted to shield her. Missing California mother and baby found dead in SUV submerged in water No one is coming to a concert for that interaction,' Ethan Dubone, who was at the show that night, told KTLA. 'Everyone is coming for a good time.' Since the footage has gone viral, many have complained that the venue did a less than stellar job of managing the sold-out stadium show. 'Among the long laundry list of complaints was crowd crushing in tunnels, people pushing in overcrowded stairs, aggressive drunk people, arguments, fans blocking exits, incredibly long shuttle lines, and, sadly, assault,' the independent Los Angeles-based music blog Grimy Goods reported. Another concert attendee that evening was Christina Molina who, along with her daughter, was seated a few rows behind the victim. 'I literally had people pressed up against my back, all of them blocking that entire walkway,' she told KTLA. 'So, crowd control was nonexistent.' Not only were the aisles jam packed, according to Molina, she said she saw people openly doing drugs and wonders if crush of the huge crowd mixed with drug and alcohol use was a factor in the violent beating. 'I've never seen any venue that has allowed the people to stand there in the walkways. It's a hazard,' she added. 'There were multiple security vendors working the venue. It wasn't just one vendor, it was multiples, and the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing.' As for the victim who is back home in Arizona, she said she is seriously bruised and sore but expects to fully recover. She has also been in contact with police, who confirmed that they are actively trying to identify him. KTLA has reached out to Rose Bowl officials to ask about venue security policies and is awaiting a response. Anyone who recognizes the man in the video is encouraged to call the Pasadena Police Department. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lansing schools made security upgrades over the summer. Here's what's new
LANSING — The metal detectors that moved into Dwight Rich School of the Arts late last school year will still be around when students return on Wednesday, Aug. 20. And a 'secure vestibule,' which prevents parents, volunteers and strangers from freely entering the school's hallways, also is being built at the K-8 building in southwest Lansing. Secure vestibules were built over the summer and are ready to be used at Attwood New Tech Magnet School, which serves elementary and middle school grades, and Lyons School and Forest View Elementary School, two elementary buildings. The vestibules are just one of the school safety features, planned long ago, that will greet students and parents this school year, district officials said. There also is fencing around the elementary- and middle-grade buildings, damage-resistant film on windows, and camera upgrades and installations, said Kristina Sleight, chief operating officer of the Lansing School District. 'We're happy to have them in the schools,' she said of returning students. 'We hope that they feel as safe and secure as we know that they are. We appreciate parents' feedback when we're looking to do these types of projects at our schools. We're just excited to see our kiddos.' Lansing School District officials placed metal detectors and handheld wands at Dwight Rich after a gun was found on campus the Thursday before the long Memorial Day weekend. Metal detectors were already at the high school buildings including Everett High School, where a teenager was found with a gun after officers responded to a fight call at the school on May 27. Paul Elam, chief strategy officer at the Okemos-based Michigan Public Health Institute and a leader in the development and operation of Advance Peace Lansing, estimated, based on conversations he has had with Lansing teens, that there's over 100 guns owned by or easily accessible to children and teenagers in the city. 'Children as young as 12 have access to these weapons,' he said earlier this year. 'Guns are everywhere. ... There's not a kid we talk to who doesn't know someone who has a gun, doesn't know someone who's been shot or been shot at or doesn't think guns are easy to acquire.' Sleight said the district annually spends about $1 million on safety improvements. 'There are additional funds that are being made available to school districts to upgrade security features,' she said. 'We've been taking advantage of applying for grants and getting additional funding to update our school facilities. 'We want everybody to feel as safe as we know that they are in our care, so we want to make sure we do have those extra layers of security for our students and for our staff members.' Sleight said the district is 95% done with fencing the appropriate schools, and that two-thirds of the schools now have secure vestibules. Dwight Rich should have its secure vestibule by the second semester. Visitors would get buzzed into the secure vestibule from the outside and then get buzzed into the office for checks before entering the rest of the building. 'Student and staff safety remains our top priority,' school board President Robin Moore said in a statement. 'The addition of cameras, fencing, window film, and secure vestibules reflects the district's ongoing commitment to protecting the well-being of the LSD community.' The district continues to work on drafting a comprehensive safety plan. 'There's currently an audit being done at every single school in conjunction with principals, our public safety department and our district leadership,' Sleight said. Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@ or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing school safety improvements include cameras, secure vestibules Solve the daily Crossword
