Chemical Tank Rupture at Washington Pulp Mill Kills 11 Workers

Eleven workers died after a chemical tank ruptured at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, Washington, on May 26. The 900,000-gallon tank, roughly two-thirds full, contained white liquor used in the paper-making process. White liquor consists of sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide and disodium carbonate.

The failure produced what authorities described as a blast that damaged much of the facility. The Cowlitz County Coroner's Office conducted autopsies for ten victims. Eight died from alkaline chemical burns: Jared Ammons, 35; Norman Barlow, 58; Gilberto Bernal, 52; Bradley Covington, 27; Tyler Covington, 29; Clinton Doran, 26; John Forsberg, 51; and Dale Miller, 54.

Robert Wilson, 48, died from alkaline chemical burns and blunt force injuries. Braydon Finkas, 38, died from alkaline chemical burns and asphyxia due to aspiration of a foreign object. Dillon Miller, 27, was taken to a hospital in Portland and died there.

The Multnomah County Medical Examiner determined his cause of death to be sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide burns. Cowlitz County Coroner Dana Tucker called the incident a "horrific tragedy" and one of the most significant events for the community since the 1980 eruption of Mount St.

Helens. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries is investigating possible workplace safety violations; the probe is expected to take about six months. State and federal agencies are also examining the cause of the rupture and steps to prevent recurrence.