by Brent Frazier
GALLATIN, Tenn. - Federal investigators shared their latest findings on the same day that Friday's manufacturing plant explosion claimed its second victim: Rick Lester of Hendersonville.
"The entire facility is in a state of shock," said Johnnie Banks, lead investigator on the case with the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. "Everyone's feeling "a sense of great loss."
Banks, flanked by colleagues Rafael Moure-Eraso, chairman of the board; and Daniel Horowitz, managing director; updated the local media Wednesday evening on the fiery incident at the Hoeganaes Plant in Gallatin, that is apparently not the plant's first.
The men reminded the press of two similar incidents, at that same site, just this calendar year: January 31, an incident that claimed two lives; and March 29, an incident that only resulted in one worker being hurt.
The agents continued to speak of an iron dust, or powder, that is highly combustible; a material the Hoeganaes site actually produces to be pressed into parts for the automotive industry.
"In this most recent incident, there was dust observed in areas around the area where the incident was initiated," Banks told reporters.
His colleague also cited the presence of such powder, as a fuel contributor not as the ignition source, in the prior two incidents at the plant.
"We've established that the fuel for the two prior accidents was the combustible iron powder that exists in the plant," Horowitz said.
Now, the hunt is on for the critical missing piece of this latest puzzle: what sparked Friday's fire. Agents said they are looking into all possibilities.
"Including hydrogen," said Horowitz. "We believe there was a hydrogen gas fire."
The CSB has no sanctioning power; no ability to issue fines for violations it might uncover. The agency's sole purpose is to pinpoint the cause of Friday's horrific plant explosion that killed Eric Hulsey, of Orlinda, TN; and now Lester.
A third victim, Fred Tuttle, remains in critical but stable condition in the burn center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Two other workers were hurt, but treated and released from the hospital.
Email: bfrazier@newschannel5.com
Related Stories:
