On July 17, 2024, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update on the toxic chemical release on January 23, 2023, at Honeywell’s Geismar, Louisiana facility. A reboiler explosion released over 870 pounds of hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas and nearly 1,700 pounds of chlorine gas. Nearby highways were closed, and workers sheltered in place. Honeywell estimates the damage to be $4 million.

The CSB reports that the reboiler had its last inspections in September 2020 and October 2021. In 2020, ultrasonic thickness testing indicated 1.1 years of remaining service life. The 2021 visual inspection recommended replacing the shell during the next shutdown, and a replacement project was initiated in January 2022 but still needs to be completed before the incident.

A Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) released HF, chlorine gas, and other substances. The CSB examines Honeywell’s mechanical integrity, project management practices, and relevant standards.

For more details on this news, visit the CSB’s official release.

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