Last Friday, (08/22) a large explosion occurred at the Smitty’s Supply plant in Roseland, Louisiana. The blast occurred around 1pm, causing a large fire at the plant that forced mandatory evacuations of the surrounding area. All workers were able to evacuate the plant in time and no injuries were reported, though many workers and residents remain concerned about the long-term health effects from the explosion.
Smitty’s Supply is one of the country’s largest manufacturers of motor oil and auto lubricants. The plant in Roseland employed over 450 workers and contained nearly 15 acres of warehouse space, a grease manufacturing plant, and a laboratory, and was involved in manufacturing motor oil, antifreeze, and hydraulic fluid.
According to local monopoly media sites, workers reported receiving a text on Monday telling them, “Just a FYI as of friday the 22nd everyone has been laid off.” The layoffs are permanent and workers will not receive severance pay.
Residents and workers recall blankets of smoke shrouding the area, casting debris and strange residues and soot over cars, yards, and homes that have remained days afterwards. A mandatory evacuation order remained in effect as of Monday for a one-mile radius surrounding the explosion site, which includes a local elementary school. Sections of the Tangipahoa River nearby were found to be contaminated with oil over the weekend, prompting the closure of a section of the waterway.
The fire at the plant was 90% contained as of Saturday evening, with smaller explosions reported as the blaze went on. Investigators have still not uncovered the cause of the initial fires.
So far, five lawsuits have been filed against the company, which claim damages to the health and safety of residents. The company has yet to notify the residents what chemicals were released and their toxicity.
The company has faced numerous worker and environmental safety violations within the past few years, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The explosion at Smitty’s Supply plant follows a string of other recent plant explosions, including a July 29 biofuel plant explosion in Nebraska and an August 11 explosion at Clairton Coke Works outside of Pittsburgh. While all of the companies have been previously fined by government regulatory agencies for safety concerns, the profit motive outweighs softball penalties for the monopolists, leaving them off the hook while their workers are left to pay the consequences with their livelihoods and lives.
Photo: Smitty’s Supply plant explosion. Retrieved from EPA
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