Washington, DC, October 24, 2016 – An investigative team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has deployed to the scene of a chemical release that led to a shelter-in-place order for thousands of residents and at least 85 members of the public seeking medical attention in Atchison, Kansas. The incident was reportedly triggered due to two chemicals used in the plant (sulfuric acid and sodium hypochlorite (bleach) ) getting inadvertently mixed up during a routine chemical delivery to the plant, by one of the suppliers.
More details of the incident are reported here
The release occurred at a plant owned and operated by MGP Ingredients, the facility produces distilled spirits and specialty wheat proteins and starches.
The CSB’s four person investigative team will be led by Supervisory Investigator Johnnie Banks.
Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland said, “This incident underscores the very serious consequences that can occur when a chemical release goes beyond a facility’s fence line and impacts nearby residents.”