Feds Probe Cause of Deadly Explosion in Florida

A federal board investigating an explosion at Jacksonville’s T2 Laboratories are trying to determine whether the accident that killed four workers and injured 33 was an extraordinary mishap or a disastaer waiting to happen.

Investigators at the U.S. Chemical Safety Board have attempted to create miniature versions of the December 2007 explosion using T2’s normal formula for making a gasoline additive.

Lead investigator Robert Hall says re-creations showed the chemicals used produced extreme amounts of heat and pressure. He compared the blast to detonating a ton of TNT.

Engineers are still looking into the company’s cooling system and reactor chamber.

Calls to the safety board yesterday were not immediately returned.
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Information from: The Florida Times-Union