Safety at Work
Longview, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Eleven workers are dead after a paper mill suffered what officials called a “catastrophic failure.”
On May 26, the white liquor tank imploded at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging paper mill. The incident is still under investigation, officials said. White liquor is a mix of caustic chemical compounds that help to break down the wood so pulp can be extracted in the manufacture of paper.
White liquor is primarily composed of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. Because of its high pH, exposure can result in catastrophic chemical burns and severe respiratory or ocular irritation, according to OSHA.
Unlike acids, which cause superficial damage, caustic bases deeply penetrate the body and literally liquify cellular proteins and fats, causing immediate second- and third-degree burns and tissue necrosis. If splashed in the eyes, it can cause severe alkaline burns, swelling corneal ulcerations and permanent or total loss of vision. The compound can also burn the throat and lead to fluid build up in the lungs if breathed in, and cause respiratory failure. If ingested, it can cause severe life-threatening corrosive burns to the mouth, esophagus, and gastrointestinal tract.
Officials said first responders were called to the mill in Longview, Wash. at 7:20 a.m. The City’s fire department originally reported that one employee had been killed, eight workers and one firefighter had been injured, and nine people had been reported missing.
According to fire officials, a tank holding 600,000 gallons of white liquor exploded. About 90,000 gallons remains in the tank, officials estimated. The liquid can only be self-neutralized when mixed with water.
Matt Amos, a battalion chief with the Longview Fire Department said most of the dead and missing were in an area where employees gathered before getting their assignments for the day, said Matt Amos, a battalion chief with the Longview Fire Department.
Emergency crews began working on recovery efforts on Tuesday, and recovered the bodies of the missing nine employees by Sunday.
On the day of the implosion, Gov. Bob Ferguson, and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) and other state elected officials spoke in front of the facility.
Ferguson said finding the right words during disasters like this is always difficult.
“On behalf of the people of the state of Washington, I want you to know that we stand with you, we’ll be here to do anything we can to help with the situation, and we’ll be here as long as it takes,” Ferguson told the people of Longview. “We also deeply appreciate the first responders.”
Officials said the injured employees were taken to nearby hospitals In Longview and Vancouver with injuries that ranged from minor to critical.
Kurt Stich, Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Chief, said the incident was horrific.
“This is a horrific tragedy that has profoundly impacted our community, and we appreciate the public’s continued passion and support,” Stich said.
Scott Tift, president of Western Pulp and Paperworkers, praised the community for its response.
“As someone who lives here and knows many of these families, I want to acknowledge the extraordinary love and support this community has shown,” Tift said.
The eleven dead makes the plant explosion the worst industrial disaster in Washington state’s modern history. Recovery workers said the work was difficult because of the structural damage to the plant’s tank, and the mix of water and chemicals standing near the tank. Crews, officials said, had to wear protective gear and undergo decontamination and health checks each time they searched. Crews were not able to approach the chemical tank itself and could only enter the explosion site a few times a day.
“It still continues to be a highly complex industrial hazard,” Amos said. “It’s very labor intensive and takes a lot of personnel.”
The incident is being investigated by the state Department of Labor and Industries. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has also opened an investigation into the incident.
Environmental regulators monitored the air around the plant and downwind for dangerous chemicals, including hydrogen sulfide. Exposure to hydrogen sulfide can cause nausea and dizziness, even at low levels.
Around 550 people work at the Nippon Dynawave factory. Brian Wood, one of the company’s executives, told media outlets the plant was not fully shut down, but was continuing “critical operations,” like an effluent treatment system. However, workers who were not allowed on the site right now are being paid, he said.
GoFundMe pages and other community support programs had been set up for all 11 victims, officials said.
