At about 12:07 a.m. on May 4, 2009, highly flammable vapor, released from a waste recycling process, ignited and violently exploded, severely injuring two employees and slightly injuring two others at Veolia ES Technical Solutions, LLC. Multiple explosions afterward significantly damaged every structure on the site. Residences and businesses in the surrounding community also sustained considerable damage. The fire was declared under control by 10:38 a.m. that day.

KEY ISSUES:
• UNSAFE BUILDING SITING
• ATMOSPHERIC RELIEF SYSTEMS
• PLANT EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

ROOT CAUSES:
1. The vent devices were not designed to contain or control hazardous and/or toxic vapor.
2. No record existed of a process hazard analysis (PHA) to evaluate the siting of the lab/operations building so close to the operating units.

Image credit: CSB