Archives: Site of Louisville explosion has history of issues

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Tuesday's explosion in Louisville was not the first incident involving the site on Payne Street.

>> Read more about the explosion here.

D.D. Williamson formerly owned the Givaudan Sense Colour facility, and WLKY covered two previous issues there, both involving ammonia.

The first incident dates back to 1996. D.D. Williamson manufactured food additives, like caramel flavoring for soft drinks.

That year, a D.D. Williamson tank car carrying 20,000 gallons of ammonium bisulfite ruptured, spilling the additive all over homes nearby. That additive was used mainly as a food preservative.

The second happened on April 11, 2003. There was an explosion at D.D. Williamson that killed one worker and injured 26 others. Firefighters at the time said hazardous amounts of ammonia leaked from the plant and debris was sent flying through fences and into neighboring parking lots.

People up to three miles away felt that explosion, much like Tuesday's blast. The 2003 explosion was due to pressure buildup in an 8-foot-tall tank where additives were processed. Federal investigators found the 2003 explosion could have been prevented by a pressure relief valve.

The company was fined $10,000 by the Kentucky Labor Cabinet for that incident, and the company's president vowed it would never happen again.