Latest news with #BioLab
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BioLab fire report reveals 'disturbing' lack of safeguards for chemical storage, agency says
The Brief A new report from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board into last year's BioLab chemical fire has revealed what officials say was a "disturbing" lack of safeguards in how the plant stored corrosive chemicals. Authorities say that "repeated failures" in the building's sprinkler system were reported in the years before the fire started. The report also showed that the sacks filled with reactive chemicals were stored alongside other dry chemicals. CONYERS, Ga. - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released a new report as part of its investigation into a massive fire at the BioLab chemical plant in Conyers last year. The fire sent a toxic chemical cloud into the air and forced thousands of residents to shelter in place for weeks. The backstory The fires broke out Sept. 29 at the BioLab plant in Conyers, sending a huge plume of orange and black smoke into the sky. BioLab makes chemicals that kill algae and bacteria in water, primarily for swimming pools and hot tubs. The company is a subsidiary of Lawrenceville, Georgia-based KIK Consumer Products. According to a previous report by the CSB, the fire began that morning after products stored inside a warehouse that were reactive to water became wet. Employees reported hearing a "popping sound" before the "large toxic vapor plumes" formed inside the building. Interstate 20, which runs parallel to the facility, was shut down shortly after the building collapsed just before 1 p.m. and was closed until about 7 a.m. the next day. Smaller roads near the facility remained closed and the Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency issued shelter-in-place warnings within a two-mile radius that lasted for several weeks. The final order expired Oct. 17. SEE ALSO: Town hall meeting for residents impacted by BioLab fire OSHA cites BioLab for safety violations after Conyers facility fire New health survey studying impacts of Rockdale County BioLab chemical fire Smoke drifted toward Atlanta, causing a smog or haze that smelled of chlorine in parts of the city and surrounding area. More than a dozen lawsuits have been filed in connection with the fire. Commissioners announced a lawsuit against BioLab in October 2024, citing the physical and emotional tolls the company has caused the community. Earlier this month, BioLab announced that it had completed environmental remediation at its Conyers facility but would not resume manufacturing operations due to ongoing production challenges and future business considerations. What we know In the new report, the agency said that BioLab was storing more than twice the amount of reactive chemicals in its warehouse than was previously disclosed. Back in 2019, county officials were originally told around 6 million pounds of raw materials would be placed in the facility. At the time of the fire, officials say that nearly 14 million pounds of the material were stored in the building. The agency said that the oxidizers were stored in large bags holding more than a ton of material in each. These bags were reportedly stored in piles alongside other dry chemicals. The CSB is still investigating the source of the water that started the fire. Officials do say that there had been reported corrosion in facility's fire protection system, "Corrosion was noted shortly after the storage of corrosive chemicals including trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) began in 2019, and repeated failures in the sprinkler system were documented in subsequent inspection reports," the agency said. What they're saying "The more we learn about this unacceptable incident, the more disturbing it is," said CSB Chairperson Steve Owens. "This is a stark reminder of the very serious dangers that can occur when enormous amounts of reactive and corrosive chemicals are stored without proper safeguards in place." What's next The investigation into the fire remains ongoing. The agency says it will eventually issue non-binding safety recommendations. The Source Information for this story came from a release by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and previous FOX 5 stories.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Concerns about BioLab chemical fire resurfacing
Exposure to BioLab, Inc.'s chemical fire was the topic of conversation for nearly three hours Wednesday night. People who live close to the plant that caught on fire in Sept. met for a town hall meeting to discuss health concerns and legal options. 'I still don't know the long term effects,' said Ashton Carter. 'It started affecting my breathing, my nose, my eyes,' said Travis Benson. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Nearly a month after the fire, shelter-in-place orders were lifted and federal and state leaders said there was no immediate threat to the community, but attorneys called a town hall meeting to gauge the community's response to it. 'How their life has been impacted by what happened at BioLab is important,' said Mindy Bish. Bish told the crowd she would file each civil suit separately instead of choosing the class action route. 'No two cases are the same. We have one person who, for example, is having trouble breathing, another person whose heart ailment has gotten worse. We have women who haven't been able to get pregnant,' said Bish. An environmentalist told people in the crowd he gathered ground, water and surface samples around BioLab after the fire. A doctor compared lab results to chlorine bombs used in chemical warfare. TRENDING STORIES: GBI says teen brothers died of self-inflicted injuries on north GA mountain Facebook Marketplace car theft ring ends in dozens of charges for 2 women, Gwinnett police say Severe weather leaves behind multiple reports of damage Some wonder if challenging BioLab is worth it. 'I really do feel powerless against it,' said Cater. Attorneys told the crowd they have to file suits challenging Rockdale County's response to the emergency within one year of an incident. 'I'd like to get more insight, more information, more knowledge as to exactly what we were exposed to, what we're breathing in and what were the long term effects,' said Carter. BioLab, Inc. announced earlier this month it will no longer manufacture in Conyers. It said the distribution center will remain operational. Channel 2's Courtney Francisco reached out to the company Wednesday night to find out if that means it will be storing chemicals there. We are waiting for a response. A Department of Labor investigation released in April said the fire happened because BioLab stored its product improperly. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Attorney holds town hall for neighbors near BioLab plant over class action suit against company
Neighbors of BioLab, Inc. in Conyers are taking part in a town hall meeting on Wednesday night to discuss ways they could hold the corporation accountable for last fall's fire. The plant, which stored chlorine chemicals, caught fire in September. A huge plume of orange and black smoke filled the air and shut down Interstate 20, which runs beside the plant. Firefighters ordered evacuations of thousands of people who live nearby. Shelter-in-place warnings were in effect for nearly a month. Now, people who live and work around the plant are meeting with attorneys to discuss class action lawsuit options. TRENDING STORIES: Gwinnett Co. elementary school bus comes across ICE enforcement operation at mobile home park Rapper Rod Wave arrested after shots fired at his metro Atlanta home Georgia Tech student 'targeted' in deadly shooting at off-campus apartment 'You really increase, exponentially, your bargaining power. Each person by themselves has a hard time going up against a big corporation. When you've got 10,000 of your best friends, all of a sudden joining together, you also are a big power to be dealt with,' attorney Alex Weatherby told Channel 2's Courtney Francisco. He said some people could possibly claim property damages and damages to their health. 'With the injuries, the one that comes to mind to me the most would likely be property. So, if you have a home that was near there, there may be some damage to the physical property itself or to the resale value,' Weatherby said. 'You could also have some individual personal injuries if somebody was exposed to the fire.' The town hall meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in Lithonia. Francisco will have an update from neighbors on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m.
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Company decides not to rebuild chlorine plant with history of fires, explosions and toxic clouds
CONYERS, Ga. — The company that operated a Georgia chlorine plant with a history of explosions, chemical fires and toxic clouds that have drifted over neighborhoods outside Atlanta has decided not to rebuild the main manufacturing facility in Conyers. In a statement, BioLab Inc. said it has been unable to resume manufacturing operations in Conyers after the most recent catastrophe on Sept. 29.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Company decides not to rebuild chlorine plant with history of fires, explosions and toxic clouds
CONYERS, Ga. (AP) — The company that operated a Georgia chlorine plant with a history of explosions, chemical fires and toxic clouds that have drifted over neighborhoods outside Atlanta has decided not to rebuild the main manufacturing facility in Conyers. In a statement, BioLab Inc. said it has been unable to resume manufacturing operations in Conyers after the most recent catastrophe on Sept. 29. 'After taking steps to meet customer needs through alternative production, and in considering our future business needs carefully, we have made the difficult decision not to restart manufacturing at the Conyers plant,' it said. Though manufacturing won't restart, the company's Conyers distribution center will remain operational and fill customer orders for products from other manufacturing facilities, BioLab said. 'We take our role in Conyers very seriously, and as we move forward, the safety and wellbeing of the Conyers community remain a top priority.' The September fire sent a huge plume of orange and black smoke into the Georgia sky, forcing nearby residents to shelter in place, leading to classes canceled for schoolchildren and the closure of a major interstate. Last month, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board released an update on its investigation. The company improperly stored hazardous chemicals, federal authorities said. BioLab was cited for six violations, including four serious ones, and more than $60,000 in proposed penalties, the U.S. Department of Labor said. BioLab makes chemicals that kill algae and bacteria in water, primarily for swimming pools and hot tubs. The company is a subsidiary of Lawrenceville, Georgia-based KIK Consumer Products. Its Conyers plant is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of downtown Atlanta. The Associated Press
