DuPont guilty of criminal negligence for deaths in 2014 plant explosion

摘要

A US court has sentenced chemicals company DuPont(Wilmington,Delaware)for criminal negligence in a 2014 explosion at a Texas production facility that left four employees dead.In November 2014,DuPont released some 24,000 lb(10.9 tonnes)of highly toxic,flammable gas,methyl mercaptan,which is used as an intermediate in pesticide production and for other industrial purposes,into the air.In addition to killing the four,the chemical release injured other DuPont employees and travelled downwind into the surrounding areas.DuPont pleaded guilty to EPA led charges along with Kenneth Sandel,52,Friendswood,unit operations leader of the Insecticide Business Unit(IBU),where the accident occurred.US District Judge Lee H Rosenthal ordered DuPont to pay a $12 million penalty,and to serve two years of probation during which time the company must give the US Probation Office full access to all of its operating locations.