The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is sending investigators to investigate a major chemical fire that occurred on September 29 at the Bio-Lab facility in Conyers, GA.  According to news reports, as many as 17,000 people in the area evacuated due to the fire and 90,000 others east of Atlanta were advised to shelter in place due to the massive plume of dark smoke from the fire.

CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said “We are sending investigators to  the site to determine the cause of this dangerous incident and the safety gaps at the facility that allowed this huge fire to occur.  Tens of thousands of people have been put potentially at risk by this catastrophe.”
 
The CSB has investigated the Bio-Lab facility in Conyers before.  In September 2020, the CSB investigated a chemical reaction and decomposition at the facility which released a plume of hazardous chemicals, including chlorine, that exposed Bio-Lab personnel and nine firefighters to dangerous fumes.  Surrounding businesses in the area were evacuated, and a portion of Interstate 20 near the facility was closed for six hours. 

The CSB investigation of the Conyers facility was in conjunction with the agency’s investigation of a chemical release and fire at the Bio-Lab facility in Westlake, Louisiana, in August 2020 where a chemical reaction and decomposition initiated a fire and released a large plume of hazardous gases, including toxic chlorine, into the air.  A portion of nearby Interstate 10 was closed for over 28 hours, and a shelter-in-place order  was issued for the surrounding community there.

Bio-Lab manufactures pool and spa chemicals containing trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA). TCCA is used throughout the country for pool care and, when put in large bodies of water such as a pool, breaks down slowly, releasing chlorine in the water.  However, when TCCA comes into contact with small amounts of water and does not dissolve, it can undergo a chemical reaction that generates heat, causing the decomposition of TCCA, which produces toxic chlorine gas.

According to OSHA, BioLab has been cited and/or fined for the following issues:

2015

Inspection number 1091336.015. Fine: $200. Use of flexible cords and/or cables as a substitute for wiring. “The employer did not ensure that employees wearing prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design or wears eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses.”

2017

Inspection number 1207476.015. Initially fined: $25,350. Fine after settlement: $15,210. “Procedures were not utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section: Employees working in the P2 North and P2 South Press areas are exposed to a amputation hazard while performing service and or maintenance such as but not limited to adjusting to the hardness wheel for the tablets. The employer failed to ensure that the employees utilizes the employer’s written energy control procedures to protect the employees from startup of the equipment on or about 2/1/2017.”

Inspection number 1209417.015. $4,481. Fine after settlement: $2,689. “The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, did not include an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employee could obtain and use the appropriate hazard information ... Employees have not been trained on the safety data sheets to include the pictograms.”

2019

Inspection number 1369848.015. Initial fine: $18,705. Fine after settlement: $11,223. “Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area. Temporary employees transferring the contents of the 1 lb. bags of Clorox Pool & Spa Vinyl Pool Shock into super sacks did not receive information and training as required by the hazard communication standard including but not limited to the hazards of chlorine, the site’s written hazard communication program, the safety data sheets and how to access the safety data sheets, on or about 1/8/19.

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(3): “The employer did not ensure that employees wearing prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design or wears eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses ... Temporary employees manually opened and transferred the powder contents of the 1 lb. bags of Clorox Pool & Spa Vinyl Pool Shock into super sacks. The employer did not ensure that employees wearing prescription glasses incorporated the prescription in the eye protection or used protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses, on or about 1/8/19.”

About the CSB

The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating incidents and hazards that result, or may result, in the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous substances. The agency’s core mission activities include conducting incident investigations; formulating preventive or mitigative recommendations based on investigation findings and advocating for their implementation; issuing reports containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations arising from incident investigations; and conducting studies on chemical hazards.
 
The Board does not issue citations or fines but makes safety recommendations to companies, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA.

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