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    • Not the first incident for the Payne Street branch
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    Not the first incident for the Payne Street branch

    Vaseline Posted on

    An explosion at the Givaudan Sense Color industrial facility rocked the Clifton neighborhood on Tuesday, prompting a massive emergency response — but it’s not the first time.

    In April 2003, an explosion at the same plant caused “a massive release of ammonia,” or ammonia solution in water, according to an investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

    The explosion at the factory – which at the time operated under the name DD Williamson & Co. – killed one worker and led to the evacuation of 26 people and shelter for 1,500 people.

    This is what the history of the plant shows:

    DD Williamson has previously faced scrutiny from investigators

    In the aftermath of the 2003 explosion, investigators determined that a defective feed tank, used in the production of food-safe caramel coloring, was responsible.

    Investigators also found deficiencies in DD Williamson’s operating procedures as possible causes of the incident. These include:

    • A lack of programs “to determine whether equipment and processes met basic process and plant engineering requirements”;
    • A lack of “adequate hazard analysis systems to identify feed tank hazards”;
    • And a lack of “adequate operating procedures or adequate training programs to ensure that operators were aware of the risks” of feed tank overheating and knew how to respond.

    In the 2003 incident, when the feed tank exploded, the head of the tank was sent flying 100 meters.

    The tank’s shell “was thrown from its foundation,” striking an ammonia storage tank and causing a 26,000-pound ammonia leak, which then drifted southwest into the surrounding neighborhood as a cloud of vapor.

    The federal report said one operator was killed in the explosion due to “major trauma.”

    According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ammonia is toxic, especially with large amounts or repeated exposure. Symptoms may include irritation of the mouth, nose, throat, lungs, eyes and skin.

    “While most people recover, survivors who inhale large amounts may suffer long-term lung damage,” the CDC said, and eye contact can lead to cataracts or blindness.

    The Clifton facility recently faced local air pollution violations

    In 2021, Givaudan, a Swiss company, acquired DD Williamson & Co.

    According to the 2021 Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District permits for the plant, it still makes caramel coloring for the food industry.

    The Payne Street facility has also come under the attention of regulators recently for alleged violations of local air pollution regulations.

    Last year, the Air Pollution Control District issued two violation notices against the plant, The Courier Journal reported in the wake of the recent explosion.

    In one case, the district alleged that the company “failed to submit annual reports, semi-annual reports, and annual compliance certifications within the permitted timeframes, and failed to monitor and record the range of equipment” as required by the facility’s permit.

    In another case, the district said the company failed to file excess emissions notices as required by district regulations.

    Both cases were resolved through settlements with the district, totaling $7,500, according to district records.

    The Courier Journal was unable to reach the company by phone after business hours on Tuesday.

    Connor Giffin is an environmental reporter for The Courier Journal. Reach him immediately [email protected] or on X @byconnorgiffin.

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