1 dead, 6 injured in Goodyear SBR plant accident

By Steve Dudukovich, Rubber & Plastics News Staff

Houston, Texas -- One employee was killed and six others hospitalized after an explosion at Goodyear's Houston emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber plant last week.

The blast occurred at about 7:30 a.m. local time on 11 June, and damage was restricted to a small part of the facility, according to the company. A few hours after the explosion officials were able to investigate the site, and then found the unnamed worker who had died.

The plant was in operation when the explosion occurred, 200 workers were evacuated and the local fire department responded. The injured employees were treated by the plant's medical staff and taken to local hospitals.

The cause of the incident has yet to be determined, the company said. An ammonia leak was reported at the site, but it is unknown if it caused the explosion.

The Goodyear spokesman said it is unknown at this time if the accident will cause a supply problem.

“As far as we know the majority of the plant is continuing to operate," he said. "It was just the little area that was affected by the incident this morning that was off line.”

The official said Goodyear--which uses the emulsion SBR produced at the site for tyre production--doesn't anticipate having to turn to other sources of supply.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)