Fatal occurrences at chemical plants have sparked serious safety apprehensions, as recent mishaps resulted in the deaths of at least five employees and injured several more across different sites. On 21 September, a hydrogen blast at AAK, a cooking oil manufacturer in Louisville, US, resulted in the demise of one worker. Preliminary reports indicated that the explosion was associated with the handling of hydrogen utilized in the manufacturing process.
Previously, on 18 September, an explosion at Limbani Salt Industries in Palghar, Maharashtra, India, transpired during a procedure involving the blending of acid and metal. The explosion led to the immediate death of one worker, while two suffered severe burns, and two others got away with minor injuries.
In Norway, on 17 September, a deadly incident at Equinor’s Mongstad refinery claimed the life of a contractor from the lifting services company Crane Norway. The incident was linked to a lifting operation at the location.
Additionally, on 11 September, a leak of fluorinated refrigerant gas R-32 (difluoromethane) at Gujarat Fluorochemicals’ facility in Ranjitnagar, India, resulted in two fatalities and injuries to a dozen others. One individual passed away on the day of the incident, while the second succumbed to injuries in the hospital the next day. It is noteworthy that a similar incident at one of the company’s other locations in Bharuch, Gujarat, caused four deaths in December 2024.
These heartbreaking occurrences underscore the urgent necessity for rigorous safety measures and effective emergency response strategies to safeguard workers and avoid additional losses in chemical facilities globally.