BioLab, a leading manufacturer of pool and spa treatment chemicals, offers a range of sanitizing solutions, including chlorine-based compounds that help control algae and bacteria. Well-known brands under the BioLab portfolio, including Clorox Pool & Spa and BioGuard, hold a significant presence in the pool maintenance industry. However, the company’s operations have raised significant safety concerns, with numerous fires in recent years, particularly at its Conyers, Georgia facility.
The most recent incident began on Sunday after Hurricane Helene passed through Georgia. A malfunction in the sprinkler system led to chemical reactions that resulted in a blaze with large smoke plumes and hazardous fumes. More than 17,000 people were evacuated on Sunday, and environmental agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), were called in to monitor air quality. On Monday, more than 90,000 Atlanta area residents are sheltering in place as a pervasvie chemical smell and haze has invaded the region as a result of the fire.
The BioLab facility in Conyers, Georgia, is central to the company’s production of chemicals like trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) and dichloroisocyanuric acid, both widely used in pool treatments. These highly reactive chemicals pose substantial safety risks when exposed to water, potentially leading to fires and other dangerous incidents. This facility has experienced multiple hazardous events, stemming from chemical reactions during storage or when mixed with water.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has documented various safety violations at BioLab’s Conyers site. In 2013, OSHA levied over $46,000 in fines for one repeat and six serious violations, including exposing workers to unsafe levels of chlorine and electrical and machinery safety hazards. BioLab had previously been cited for similar violations in 2009, underscoring ongoing compliance issues at the facility.
Beyond OSHA, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has investigated multiple incidents at BioLab’s facilities. In 2020, the CSB launched an inquiry into a significant fire at the company’s Westlake, Louisiana plant during Hurricane Laura. The investigation concluded that BioLab had failed to sufficiently prepare for the extreme weather event, which resulted in the release of toxic chlorine gas into the surrounding area. The CSB’s findings called for improved hazard preparedness and stricter adherence to safety regulations.
The Conyers facility has been central to a number of hazardous incidents. In 2004, a fire involving pool treatment chemicals forced local evacuations, and in 2020, another chemical-related event resulted in chlorine gas being released, shutting down Interstate 20 and prompting mass evacuations.
