Bainbridge Public Safety confirmed one person died after a one million gallon tank of sodium hydrosulfide ignited at the facility.
Experts say the chemical involved in a deadly explosion is one that's primarily used to make cloth and paper.
Posted: Aug 19, 2015
By Shannon Wiggins
BAINBRIDGE, GA (WALB) -
Experts say the chemical involved in a deadly explosion is one that's primarily used to make cloth and paper.
The hazardous chemical known as sodium hydrosulfide is not considered an agricultural chemical, yet it was stored at Liquid Transfer Terminals in Bainbridge along with other chemicals that are used on farms and in farm products.
Farmers must go through training, take a test, and have a license to purchase restricted-use chemicals, like sodium hydrosulfide. Experts say farming can be a dangerous job.
"A lot of the chemicals that farmers use do have dangers involved with them," said Lee County Extension Coordinator Doug Collins. "They're also urged to take care and to follow all of the label instructions."
Collins said farmers should wear protective clothing and follow the safety precautions specified on labels when handling chemicals and dealing with a spill.
The explosion happened at Liquid Transfer Terminals near the Flint River around 11:15 a.m on Wednesday.
Bainbridge Public Safety confirmed one person died after a one million gallon tank of sodium hydrosulfide ignited at the facility.