Sunday, May 5, 2019

Silicone plant in Illinois explodes, four believed dead

Four people were transported to area hospitals after an explosion at the AB Speciality Silicone plant in Waukegan late Friday night. Steve Lenzi, spokesman for the Waukegan Fire Department, said officials were working with a plant manager to determine how many people were working in the Sunset Avenue factory when the explosion happened. 
Speaking around midnight, Lenzi added officials did not know what caused the explosion. "We have fire and structural damage indicative of an explosion," Lenzi said at the scene. "There is very heavy damage.” 
Two people were taken to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan and two were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Lenzi added.... 
...According to the company website, AB Speciality Silicone is a manufacturing and distribution company specializing in silicone products. 
Nancy Carreno, who lives on Atlantic Avenue near the plant, said the explosion didn’t break any windows but it was loud. “The explosion was a big boom and the ground shook. Our cable TV flickered and the electricity, and then it came back on,” she said.
Here's video of the explosion (wait for it.) Four dead - here's hoping that's the extent of the death toll. It will be interesting to hear what CSB thinks of this.  

3 comments:

  1. I wonder if trichlorosilane was the stuff what blew up, it is highly reactive and low-boiling (32C)

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  2. The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has been under threat of elimination in recent budgets. It would have been interesting to see what kind of investigation and recommendations followed this event if the CSB didn't exist. Some other state or federal agency with less independence and chemical expertise?

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    Replies
    1. Anon, the CSB was just hiring two new people a month or two ago. I seriously doubt they are under any threat anytime soon...

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