3V official: There was no fire (Friday morning update) | Georgetown, SC

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3V official: There was no fire (Friday morning update)

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Published on 9/12/2008
Written by Scott Harper

A 3V Chemical Co. official said the incidents Thursday night inside the Pennyroyal Road facility were not as bad as they could have been thanks to quick actions by the emergency crews.
Georgetown County firefighters and EMS officials were called to the plant at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday because of a report of explosions. The U.S. Coast Guard was also called to block off the Sampit River for more than an hour.
Although there were initial reports that fire could be seen from the Sylvan Rosen Bridge, Keith Billiot, 3Vs safety and security manager, said there were never any flames.
“The explosion that occurred was due to a chemical decomposition,” Billiot said in a written statement. “Temperature and pressure indications preceding this event prompted managers to evacuate the plant prior to the reactor failure. When the reactor failed, there was a violent release of heat, smoke, and sulfuric acid fumes.”
Billiot said reports from witnesses that the smoke in air was black was also wrong.
“There were no fires and no 'fireballs' resulting from the event. The smoke and acid fumes are white to hazy, not black,” he said. “ Thanks to the rapid decision making by the project manager and process engineer, all personnel were away from the blast when it occurred and no one was injured.”
Although no one was hurt in the explosion, a 3V worker was taken to the hospital earlier in the evening after suffering a burn.
The Georgetown City Fire Department was called to the hospital at about 7:15 p.m. to decontaminate the man but he had been decontaminated by the time crews arrived, according to Assistant Fire Chief Bill Johnson.
"We were told the patient had been burned over a good part of his body" by sulfur trioxide, Johnson said.
That is a new chemical being used at 3V, Johnson added.
Billiot said the worker did not suffer a severe injury.
“The individual who was taken to the hospital was an engineer, who received a thermal burn to his arm and a slight eye abrasion when he was exposed to molten product exceeding 230 degrees. He was not severely burned; it was not a chemical burn; and he was released from the hospital later in the evening,” Billiot said. “This individual even came by the plant after the explosion to check on 3V personnel. Needless to say, we sent him home to recover.”
The plant was back up and running by early morning Friday.
“Thank you to all Georgetown County and EOC responders who secured our access road and stood by to help. I thank God that we did not need anything further,” Billiot said.

Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory

3V is a dangerous place to work, they rush to get things made and shipped out be damned the employees. they will just get some new employees to take your place. they have lied to the employees in the past and still lie to the employees everyday. they do not care for the employees. their are pipes leaking chemical that burns your skin when it touches. all they do is patch the pipes, no time to replace. People living arourd this plant need to check your ground water.

Posted by former employee on 9/19/2008

It's not the county that is corrupt...well maybe it is, but I think it is the Italian mob lining everyones pocket that is to blame! The REALLY don't get a crap about their employees!

Posted by former 3v er on 9/17/2008

Used to work there but only for a year. The place is dangerous. The facility was built by an Italian group that cared little for employee safety or our environment and used 20+ year old technology to build it. Operators claimed carbomer waste was buried in the woods and at one time it was seen even as "jellyfish" floating down the Sampit River. The reactors were poorly constructed and improperly cooled and often used thousands of gallons of dichloromethane or 1,1,1 trichoroethane and other substances. If they overheated, they would be in danger of rupture or of shooting these material out of their stacks. It was like being near a submarine with a creeking hull. A few hundred yards downhill was the river. The 3-V dikes were inadequate at the time. Then 3-V built the chlorine plant - alpha, beta, gamma. etc. Too many employees were hurt due to lack safety. Limited shower or washes existed during my time. One guy was sprayed down when the RUBBER HOSE rigging burst on the 3rd floor of the plant. His face and skin were burnt black from concentrated Muriatic acid before getting to the bottom of th slippery stairway located in the outside elements. 3V is a testament to corruption in Georgetown County.

Posted by on 9/12/2008

What is it gonna take for this to stop. This is one accident after another, 3 in less than the same amount of years is 3 too many. I thank God that Mr Beckman was there in charge of what happened, we can thank him for the safety of the employees. We still have the problem of what went into the air and contrary to what was told to Mr. Harper there was a big cloud of black smoke and there was too close of a call to innocent residents that did not ask for a chemical plant be put near them and all of the experimental batches they deal with without the proper training. I am a former employee and I can tell you first hand that in the 14plus years I was there, there was never proper training on new chemicals. I left because it is not a safe place to work in or be near. I have one regret and that is I could not take all my friends with me. Now I gotta wonder how many pockets are being lined by 3V for them to keep operating in this manner and japordizing the lives of people in Georgetown not just the employees who feel traped in their job, because they are afraid they can't get another job. I ask all 3V employees one question. What is the price of your life and your family???????

Posted by DR on 9/12/2008

I was listening over an emergency band radio and there was a lot more going on at the plant last night than is being told in this story. Even from the distance I was away from the scene my eyes were burning and some respiratory problems. There is no mention that Sheriff's Dept. and State Troopers were notified in case an evacuation was necessary among other things that went on at the scene. Residents of the area deserve to know so they can protect themselves and their families form 3 V Chemical and other operations like this, which do pose a risk.

Posted by ems911brat@aol.com on 9/12/2008

I am a former employee myself, and having worked there a number of years, let me say that alot goes un-reported. Only the major stuff gets reported cause they can't cover it up. These are very dangerous chemicals, as well as CANCER causing. I'm glad I got out when I did!!!I agree that this company provides some descent paying jobs, but in the long run my quality of life is more important.

Posted by former employee on 9/12/2008

TICK...TICK...TICK.....only a matter of time before something really bad happens...even worse than the Altman death (which was completely avoidable!)...

Posted by former expense of 3V (that's how they see us) on 9/12/2008

Understand the plant mgr filters all info for press release. While Billiot may have been the spokesperson,the release was doubtless the cliffnote version. Where was OSHA and DHEC? I thot they were keeping a visible presence on site since the Altman death. Shouldn't we be questioning whether this chemical company continue to operate with such a dismal safety record? Perhaps more regulatory involvement is due.

Posted by another smokescreen on 9/12/2008

LOL is putting it mildly...How long are we going to let certain "officials" convince us that we didn't see what we saw? Just google these 2 chemicals. I have first hand knowledge of both and trust me.. if no one was hurt, then it was by the grace of God. I agree with jsp. these chemicals are dangerous.. and employees working with them need to know in advance what they are dealing with and undergo strict training, if you aren't getting that... then their life is being put in danger...period.

Posted by yeah right on 9/12/2008

I have to agree with lol, being a former employee many spills,accidents,training,etc....get covered up to protect the "company". How many CLOSE CALLS does it take before another life is taken. Granted there are some skilled people there who Know what they are doing but when you try and run something new in a plant that is old and not as advance as some chemical plants,what do you expect. This is not the first time something like this has happenned and it wont be the last. It is my prayer that God will protect and send wisdom to all employees at 3V so that they will continue to have a job in a safe enviroment.

Posted by former employee jsp on 9/12/2008

Ok while it is good no one was hurt this guy makes it seem like this happens all the time. A "violent release of heat smoke and sulfuric acid fumes" is still not good and I hope someone checks this out.

Posted by LOL on 9/12/2008

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