‘Improperly stored’ pool chemicals reacted with water to release chlorine
The US federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Osha) has fined pool and spa chemicals suppler BioLab almost $61,500 for protection violations that led to an incident at its plant in Georgia in September 2024.
Osha’s investigation concluded that ‘incorrectly stored dangerous chemicals’ cause the incident. Water from sprinklers – activated by means of a rooftop fire – reacted with trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) stored in the warehouse, releasing a plume of smoke containing chlorine, chloramines and chlorine compounds that persevered for several days, forcing about 17,000 residents to be evacuated and 90,000 to shelter in region.
Osha referred to BioLab for ‘four serious and two-other-than-serious severe violations’. The organization can now comply or contest the findings and proposed fines.
A separate investigation by the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is ongoing. The BioLab facility remains partly closed since the incident, and in February the organization reportedly offered personnel voluntary redundancy.
