By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Federal investigators of an August chlorine
leak south of St. Louis are issuing a nationwide safety advisory about chlorine transfer hoses.
The US Chemical Safety Board says a hose blamed in the leak that sickened 63 people near Festus was built with braided
stainless steel, which is not recommended for chlorine service.
The board says the hose distributor indicated the hose was made of a chlorine-resistant alloy. The two kinds of braiding are nearly indistinguishable.
The board wants chlorine users to make verify what their hoses actually are made of.
The several-hour leak at DPC Enterprises happened after a hose burst as workers were unloading chlorine gas from a railway tank car. Automatic shut-off systems also malfunctioned.