Pasenda Chemical Explosion

On Saturday afternoon, this past weekend about 1,000 gallons of an oil-based cleaning solution leaked during a routine function at PeroxyChem, causing an explosion.One contractor was pronounced dead at the scene while another contractor and two employees were rushed to the emergency room. One person suffered from a broken arm and the other two were treated for chemical exposure.

The chemical is used regularly and does not contain significant toxic properties, but the workers were sent to the emergency room anyway as a precautionary measure and are expected to recover.Witnesses described hearing a loud boom and then seeing first responders racing to the scene.

PeroxyChem is a global supplier of oxidative solutions based on hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid and persulfates and other products for electronics, energy, environmental, food safety, pulp, paper, polymer.

The Pasadena plant contains 90 acres and is located about 30 minutes southeast from downtown Houston in the 12000 block of Bay Area blvd. The site manager says that the plant has an outstanding safety record and has never seen a fatality until now. The facility was inspected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in December of 2014 and is currently in compliance with the Clean Air Act.The last incident that involved an injury was around 2007, so many are shocked about the explosion and sad about the loss of the contractor. OSHA is expected to investigate the accident further.