Chemical explosion kills worker at North Carolina plant, first responders say
A chemical explosion killed a worker at a plant in North Carolina, officials said.
First responders in Anson County were called to the blast late June 22 and saw smoke rising into the air. The explosion was reported at Darling Ingredients, which repurposes animal byproducts, according to its website.
In response to a request for comment about the explosion, the company told McClatchy News that a worker died in an “incident” at “an ancillary building” in its Wadesboro-area facility.
“The plant has been shut down and an investigation is under way,” the emailed statement said. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our employees. Our hearts and prayers go to the family, friends and coworkers of our team member.”
Rodney Diggs, chief of Anson County Emergency Services, said the explosion was tied to aluminum chloride solution. Aluminum chloride has several uses, including “as a catalyst for cracking petroleum, in preserving wood, and in medications, disinfectants, cosmetics, photography and textiles,” the New Jersey Department of Health wrote on its website.
Aluminum chloride can cause irritation if it’s inhaled, and there’s an explosion risk when it’s used in confined areas that are near water. The solution is considered unstable and “reacts violently or explosively with water,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Crews took precautions at the plant and told WBTV there wasn’t a threat to the public. Emergency officials continued to investigate the cause of the explosion as of early June 23, Diggs told McClatchy News in a phone interview.
Diggs didn’t share the identity of the employee who died. The N.C. Department of Labor told McClatchy News in an email that it was aware of the death and planned to be at the site to start an investigation.
The Wadesboro Fire Department, which reportedly was the primary firefighting agency, didn’t immediately share additional information with McClatchy News on June 23.
Wadesboro is roughly 50 miles southeast of Charlotte.
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