HOUSTON (CNI)--Advanced Silicon Materials Incorporated (ASiMI) told CNI Monday that one of its worker has now died from injuries in an 8 October chemical explosion at its plant in Moses Lake, Washington and another remains hospitalised from the incident. The Moses Lake-based producer of high-purity polycrystalline silicon also said it must lay off 70 of its 390 workers on 30 October as a result of the accident which idled the plant, which makes 2000 tonne/year of polycrystalline silicon. ASiMI has tentatively scheduled a restart for January 1999, pending the outcome of investigation into the mishap. It occurred when a pipe ruptured, igniting an explosion, fire and the release of process chemicals including hydrogen, silicon, tetrachloride and trichlorosilane, ASiMI said. The incident initially sent four workers to the hospital. On Saturday one of those workers, Roy Long, 55, died from what hospital sources called a total body failure due to breathing problems. Meanwhile, Demi Garibay, 26, remained in critical condition with lung problems, Michael Kerschen, ASiMIs executive vice president for manufacturing confirmed for CNI. Kerschen said his company is working with the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Administration (Wisha) to determine the cause of the accident but the investigation has not yet produced any reportable results. Investigators have removed the ruptured pipe and sent it to an independent laboratory for testing. ASiMI ranks as the largest global manufacturer and supplier of monosilane gas used in the fabrication of semiconductors. Besides the Moses Lake location, ASiMI also has a facility in Butte, Montana and a total work force of 600. Kerschen said the Butte plant remains operational with capacity for 1900 tonne/year of polycrystalline silicon. He said the layoffs involve about half the production and laboratory workers and noted that ASiMI has processed products that were in the pipeline at the time of accident and has completed most of the other backlogged work. Kerschen said: The plant will not restart until we are confident that we understand what caused the event and can assure the safety of our employees and surrounding community. No chemical vapours left the plant but ASiMI said it has received reports of some damage to property beyond its boundaries.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 05:14:26 +0000
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