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OSHA Cites Jacksonville's T2 Laboratories For December Explosion

By Eddie Farah

It was a blast that was seen for miles away.

Last December 19th, a chemical plant on the Northside of Jacksonville exploded. Four people were killed and many were injured. The hazardous-materials teams from all over the area were called to the "hellish inferno" that was the T2 Laboratories site.

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that oversees workplace injuries, has concluded its investigation and cited five serious federal violations and a fine of more than $12,000. OSHA blames the explosion on a chemical chamber that overheated.

"The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm."

OSHA reports that the plant had problems with its high pressure reactor, which did not receive proper maintenance. And the report says there was no backup water supply for the vessels cooling jacket. The control room was not blast resistant, the report says, exposing employees to hazards and not offering them a way to evacuate.

Another serious violation says the company's pressure vessels were not up to code. The T2 lab has 15 working days to state whether it plans to contest the charges.

While the $12,000 doesn't sound like much of a fine, the report obviously opens the door to civil litigation that could be filed by family members of the four who died and two injured who required hospitalization.

T2 Laboratories makes a gasoline performance additive.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on June 18, 2008 (boomark / email).