Product Contaminations and Chemical Releases

Challenge: A major manufacturing facility experienced benzene contamination in their major aerosol consumer product products, risking public safety and brand reputation.

Solution: EPS was engaged to lead a multidisciplinary team into the investigation of the carcinogenic contamination and, within 3 weeks, determined the origin of the contaminations, the manufacturing process causes, and the implementation of effective changes to the quality assurance procedures.

Result: Corrective and preventative manufacturing practices were implemented to cease production and recall affected products, preventing future contaminations and ensuring compliance with consumer safety expectations.

Challenge: A major oil refinery experienced a catastrophic explosion in Superior, Wisconsin, resulting in extensive property damage, injuries to over 70 workers, and the evacuation of 27,000 residents due to a release of hazardous chemicals into the community.

Solution: EPS conducted an insightful forensic investigation accurately, determining the root causes of the equipment failures, operational procedures, safety procedure failures, generation of blast waves, and the release of hazardous chemicals.

Result: EPS's investigation and testimony provided prevailing testimony for four lawsuits, including a class action for the community and three workplace injury lawsuits for contract workers.

Challenge: In 2020, an explosion at an industrial facility resulted in three deaths and damaged over 1000 properties in a significant radius of Houston neighborhoods.

Solution: EPS, leveraging its leading forensic methodologies, including advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD), quantified the effects of the explosion, including blast wave propagation through the neighborhoods.

Result: Immediately after the analysis was presented, EPS clients obtained a settlement of $52 million plus undisclosed amounts for approximately 2200 claimants for injuries and damages to their homes.

Challenge: A catastrophic explosion occurred during the transport of ammonium nitrate in Arkansas, resulting in the death of the truck driver and widespread property damage. The event raised critical concerns about material compatibility and adherence to safety standards.

Solution: EPS conducted a thorough forensic investigation, analyzing transport materials and ignition sources and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards. The team identified that ammonium nitrate was transported in a partially lined aluminum trailer, a chemically incompatible material that sensitized the explosive reaction.

Result: EPS's expert analysis clarified the root cause of the explosion incident, highlighted failures in safety compliance, and provided improved transport protocols, contributing to the litigation outcome.