Bayer CropScience To Invest $25 Million In Safety At US Plant
16 September 2009 Although the accident last year at Monheim, Germany-based Bayer CropScience’s Institute, West Virginia, US facility did not involve methyl isocyanate (MIC), 40,000 pounds of the chemical were stored only 80 feet away from the explosion’s point of origin, reports Chemical Week. An MIC leak was responsible for 4,000 deaths at Union Carbide’s facility in Bhopal, India, in 1984.
The chemical’s proximity to the point of explosion was enough for Bayer to make the decision to reduce MIC inventories at the plant by 80%, eliminating bulk storage in above-ground tanks and stopping production of two MIC-based pesticides. Additionally, Bayer will restrict MIC inventories for two pesticides still produced at the facility.
The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is investigating the incident and expects its conclusions as to the feasibility of Bayer switching to alternative chemicals or processes at the plant to be released in July 2010. CSB has stated that Bayer’s proposed measures at the site, if properly implemented, should improve safety.
The changes are estimated at about US$25 million and will take 12 months to complete.
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