DuPont is closing a Texas plant where four died in 2014 as a result of a gas leak. The LaPorte, Texas pesticide plant had been idle following the accident.
While DuPont wouldn’t disclose the number of people who are employed at the LaPorte DuPont facility, they did confirm that positions would be retained for de-commissioning work in the near-term. DuPont will provide assistance to employees looking for work after that.
The closure of the LaPorte plant will cost DuPont roughly $70 million.
Four workers died at the plant in November 2014 as a result of exposure to 23,000 pounds of methyl mercaptan. The Chemical Safety Board declared that neither workers at the plant nor the public were safe from chemical exposure at the plant.
The Safety Board also found that workers were not informed that they needed breathing protection equipment as well as that the plant had an inadequate toxic detection system. The report also alleged other issues with the plant that were long-standing.
Source: Delawareonline.com, “DuPont closing Texas plant where four died,” by Karl Baker, April 1, 2016