Investigation Report: Toxic Chemical Vapor Cloud Release: (154 Treated, Five Hospitalized for Toxic Chemical Exposure)

Publisher Marketing: This report examines a toxic chemical release. On April 12, 2004, a runaway chemical reaction during the production of triallyl cyanurate at MFG Chemical, Inc. (MFG) in Dalton, Georgia, released highly toxic and flammable allyl alcohol and toxic allyl chloride into the nearby community, forcing the evacuation of more than 200 families. One worker received chemical burns and 154 people, including 15 police and ambulance personnel, required decontamination and treatment for chemical exposure. This report makes recommendations to the companies involved in the incident, as well as the local, county, and state agencies in charge of preparing emergency responses to chemical releases. The U. S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is an independent Federal agency whose mission is to ensure the safety of workers and the public by preventing or minimizing the effects of chemical incidents. The CSB is scientific investigative organization; it is not an enforcement or regulatory body. Established by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the CSB is responsible for determining the root and contributing causes of accidents, issuing safety recommendations, studying chemical safety issues, and evaluating the effectiveness of other government agencies involved in chemical safety. No part of the conclusions, findings, or recommendations of the CSB relating to any chemical incident may be admitted in evidence or used in any action or suit for damages arising out of any matter mentioned in an investigation report (see 42 U. S. C. 7412[r][6][G]). The CSB makes public its actions and decisions through investigation reports, summary reports, safety bulletins, safety recommendations, special technical publications, and statistical reviews. More information about the CSB is at www.csb.gov.