Chemical Accident at Alumina Plant in Louisiana Leaves Several Workers Severely Burned

Multiple employees at an alumina plant in Louisiana were severely burned in a chemical accident on Sunday, including three left in critical condition, according to local reports.

The incident happened at around 3:43 p.m. at the Atalco alumina plant in Gramercy, the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP) told WAFB.

The employees were burned by a high pH caustic solution while changing a valve that was under pressure. The incident lasted for two minutes.

The amount of solution that was released is being investigated.

Five employees were taken to the hospital for burns. Three people were airlifted with critical injuries from burns, WBRZ reported. One was airlifted to the burn center at Baton Rouge General Hospital, hospital spokesperson Meghan Parrish told WAFB.

The accident happened at a small worksite in the plant. The solution was released to concrete, and it will not have any impact on the surrounding community, according to OHSEP.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) is investigating the incident.

The Atalco plant, owned by the Atlantic Alumina Company, processes bauxite into alumina.