A Large Explosion at a Louisville Jobsite Sends 11 Workers to the Hospital

An explosion happened around 3 p.m. in the Clifton neighborhood of Louisville this afternoon, Tuesday, Nov. 12. The incident, which resulted in a partial collapse of a building, occurred at the Givaudan Sense Colour facility, located near the intersection of Payne and Pope Streets.

Details About Those Affected by the Incident

Initially, at least two workers were believed to have been trapped inside the facility. However, a 4:30 p.m. press briefing by our city’s mayor clarified that everyone had been accounted for. As of press time, local news station WLKY contends that paramedics may have transported as many as 11 workers who were in the building at the time to area hospitals for treatment. The latest information is that, fortunately, no one was killed in the workplace incident. Two were reported to have critical injuries.

What Caused the Office Building To Implode?

When asked about the cause of the explosion, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg declined to answer. He noted that an investigation into the incident is underway, but that it’s expected to take some time until it’s completed. However, WLKY says that their sources have told them that the culprit that caused this was an ammonia leak.

The Impact of the Explosion on the Clifton Neighborhood

Local TV station WAVE reports that area residents and businesses within a mile of the facility where the explosion occurred were initially under a shelter-in-place soon thereafter. Also, anyone within a 2-block radius of the workplace was being evacuated. While it appears that the shelter-in-place order was lifted at 4:40 p.m., it’s unclear if those evacuated were allowed to return to the area yet.

In addition to the inconvenience created by shelter-in-place and evacuation orders, apparently, nearby businesses sustained property damage.

How Thomas Law Offices Help Victims of Preventable Accidents Like These

While the status of those workers hurt in the explosion is unclear, we’re hopeful that none of them will have to deal with lasting effects because of what happened. If you or someone close to you has been affected by this unexpected, preventable accident or some other type of one, know that our personal injury lawyers are here to help you understand whether you qualify for compensation for any losses you may have.