4 People Hospitalized With Burns From Chemical Plant Gas Leak4 People Hospitalized With Burns From Chemical Plant Gas Leak

The incident took place at the Formosa Plastics plant on Tuesday night due to a chemical leak.

Kristen Kazarian, Managing Editor

October 10, 2024

1 Min Read
toxic ammonia gas leak
A storage cylinder with about 150 lb of ammonia gas broke, releasing the toxic gas.John Kevin/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Four people were hospitalized Tuesday night with burns after being exposed to ammonia from a chemical plant in Baton Rouge, according to local news WBRZ.

Two of the four workers were in critical condition with inhalation burns, and the other two "were serious but stable."

The incident occurred around 8:15 p.m. at Formosa Plastics, which supplies plastic resins and petrochemicals including polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, and Chlor-Alkali.

A storage cylinder broke, releasing toxic ammonia gas, said Baton Rouge Fire Department officials. They estimate the cylinder had a capacity of 150 lb, though it is not clear how much ammonia was released. They said the ammonia gas likely quickly dissipated in the air and was isolated to the plant, so there is no danger to the public as the ammonia was not released from the facility.

OSHA investigators opened an inquiry into the incident that led to the injuries, a spokeswoman said Wednesday, local news sources added. The agency hasn't issued any worker safety violations against Formosa in Baton Rouge since at least Jan. 1, 2019. 

Curt Monte, spokesman for Baton Rouge Fire, said the cylinder failure wasn't part of process equipment that would have led to a continuing leak.

Officials with the state DEQ said the release did not have an impact off Formosa's complex along the Mississippi River, just north and west of ExxonMobil refinery and chemical complex.

About the Author

Kristen Kazarian

Managing Editor

Kristen Kazarian has been a writer and editor for more than three decades. She has worked at several consumer magazines and B2B publications in the fields of food and beverage, packaging, processing, women's interest, local news, health and nutrition, fashion and beauty, automotive, and IT.

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