Episode 76 - Incident Breakdown: 2020 Toxic Gas Release and Chemical Fire at Bio-Lab Facility

Amplify Your Process Safety

In this episode, Rob and Jo discuss the CSB's investigation report on the 2020 toxic gas release and chemical fire at Bio-Lab Facility in Westlake, Louisiana. On August 27, 2020, strong winds from Hurricane Laura damaged buildings at the facility, causing rainwater to come into contact with the trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) that was stored inside. A chemical reaction began, and the TCCA began to decompose, releasing heat that started a fire, while also releasing a large amount of hazardous gases that traveled offsite. Today, Rob and Jo provide some background about this Bio-Lab facility, discuss the events surrounding the incident, and cover the consequences of the incident. Then they discuss the CSB's five identified safety issues that contributed to the event, what types of companies might be at risk for similar events, and how any facility can prevent an incident like this one.

Find the CSB's final report ⁠here.

Listen to the other episodes we mentioned today at the links below:

Episode 26 - Natural Hazard Assessment and Planning Episode 52 - EPA's General Duty Clause with Guest Mathew Todaro Episode 56 - Implementing EPA's General Duty Clause (GDC) Episode 66 - Tornadoes, Natural Hazards, and Emergency Planning