In Conyers, Georgia, the BioLab chemical plant fire that exposed nearby residents to toxic chemicals was just one in a long line of recent incidents at the plant. According to local outlet WXIA-TV/11 Alive, an NBC-affiliated station, the BioLab facility violated safety standards almost 20 times in recent years. Now, residents are wondering why that track record seems acceptable to local officials.
Safety Standard Violations ‘Not OK’ With Conyers Residents
A fire broke out on the roof of the BioLab chemical plant facility in Conyers, Georgia, on September 29, 2024, according to KTNV-TV/13 Action News, an ABC affiliate. Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel said the fire triggered a malfunctioning sprinkler head and caused water to interact with a water-reactive chemical held at the plant.
The cloud of smoke from the fire could be seen and inhaled for miles, and mandatory evacuation orders were put in place for those who lived around the facility.
“A shelter-in-place was set for Rockdale County, with Georgia officials ‘strongly’ advising all businesses to be closed and residents to stay home with their windows and doors shut and air conditioning kept off as the Environmental Protection Agency conducted air quality tests,” KTNV-TV/13 Action News reported. The outlet added, “These tests later confirmed the presence of chlorine in the air from the plume.”
But this was far from the first time there was a major safety concern at the site. In fact, WXIA-TV/11 Alive reported that the facility has violated safety standards at least 18 times in recent years.
“Why would our local officials be OK with that type of a scorecard?” Sher’ree Kellogg, who had to shelter in place with her husband Andre, expressed to the outlet.
“None of us can go to our regular, full-time jobs and have multiple, multiple offenses and still have a job. It’s not OK.”
Fires, Fines, Injuries, and More at BioLab Chemical Plant
The local NBC outlet reported that the Environmental Protection Agency investigated a fire at the BioLab facility in 2004, and the Chemical Safety Board reported a similar incident at the facility in 2020.
Plus, 11Alive discovered more than a dozen violations reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at the facility in Conyers, most of them “serious.” That list included one OSHA report from 2021 detailing how a chemical production operator received burns to the “hand and thigh from Sodium Hydroxide.”
The facility has also faced at least $67,000 in fines from OSHA since the aforementioned 2004 fire.
“For them to fail OSHA requirements and still receive those chemicals and still manufacture using chemicals, that is a significant challenge for us,” Andre Kellogg said.
Although the outlet tried to contact Kik Consumer Products, which owns BioLab, regarding questions about its safety history, the company did not answer those inquiries. However, in a statement, a BioLab representative did say the prior events reported on by 11Alive didn’t involve the building entangled in the latest BioLab chemical plant situation at the Conyers facility.
Representative Comments on BioLab Facility Safety Violations
“Over the years, our company has been rigorous about actioning enhancements to our facilities, policies, and practices,” a statement claimed.
“Examples of adjustments we have implemented at Conyers include upgrades to our safety equipment, enhanced emergency response protocols, updated housekeeping procedures, and broad training for employees. We also conduct periodic tests and evaluations of our fire protection systems based on industry standards, as well as walk-throughs with the local Fire Department. BioLab and KIK have a very strong track record of working constructively with relevant regulators and intend to continue doing so at the Conyers site until the incident is fully resolved.”
Safety Standard Violation Lawsuits
It will take time for all of the information about how the BioLab facility violated safety standards to come out. However, in general, we at Phillips Law Group understand that companies that violate safety standards put both employees and the public at risk, and may result in a need for legal action.
When organizations fail to comply with established regulations, serious accidents can occur, leading to harmful consequences for individuals. For instance, any safety standard violations at the BioLab facility may ultimately result in dangerous conditions for people working there – and now, may have resulted in toxic exposure to residents living even many miles away from the facility.
Corporations have a duty to maintain a safe environment and follow industry standards. If these obligations are ignored, and someone is injured as a result, the company can be held liable. If you or a loved one may have a claim involving substandard safety regulations at a chemical plant or similar facility, you have legal options.
Please call our firm at 602-222-2222 to learn more about your options today.
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