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Chemical Leak Kills Two at W.Va. Plant
23 Apr
Summary
- Two fatalities and 19 hospitalizations resulted from a chemical leak.
- The incident occurred at Catalyst Refiners during a chemical reaction shutdown.
- Toxic hydrogen sulfide gas was believed to be produced during the event.
A dangerous chemical leak at the Catalyst Refiners plant in Institute, West Virginia, claimed two lives and necessitated the hospitalization of 19 individuals on Wednesday. The incident unfolded as employees were initiating the shutdown of a portion of the silver recovery facility.
Authorities reported that a volatile reaction between nitric acid and another substance generated toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. This chemical event occurred during what is believed to have been a cleaning process, a period identified as particularly hazardous.
Among those injured were seven ambulance workers who responded to the scene. Some victims sought transport to hospitals via private vehicles, and in one instance, a garbage truck was reportedly used. One person remained in critical condition.
Emergency services treated patients experiencing respiratory distress, including coughs, shortness of breath, sore throats, and itchy eyes. A shelter-in-place advisory was enacted for the vicinity, remaining in effect for over five hours before being rescinded. All reported fatalities occurred on the plant grounds.
Catalyst Refiners, owned by Ames Goldsmith Corp., specializes in extracting silver from industrial byproducts. The company has expressed sorrow over the incident and pledged cooperation with local, state, and federal investigations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has initiated its inquiry into the cause of the leak.
