LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Answers into what caused last week's deadly explosion at the Givaudan factory in Louisville are starting to surface.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and other officials held a press conference on Monday to give updates on the investigation into an explosion at the Givaudan factory on Payne Street. Special Agent in Charge of ATF Louisville Shawn Morrow said during their preliminary investigation they were able to determine the explosion was an accident.
Agencies reassured the community there is no public safety threat, as no hazardous materials were a part of the explosion.
Morrow said Louisville ATF and members of the Louisville Fire arson bureau collected evidence from the scene and interviewed over 100 employees, citizen witnesses and nearby neighbors.
They wrapped up their investigation on Sunday and returned the factory to the owners.
"Despite an incredible amount of damage the investigative team was able to recover internal surveillance video leading up the blast as well as a hard drive, a 'black box' if you, will that contained important data for cooking vessel No. 6, including historical performance settings," Morrow said.
He confirmed the explosion happened due to a failure of cooking vessel No.6 on the southside of the factory.
"The data analysis on-going but we were able to definitively say that cooking vessel No.6 failed and that led to a catastrophic event," Morrow said.
He also said their investigation shows the explosion was an accident and there is no evidence to suggest anyone intentionally caused the blast.
Morrow also said several regulatory agencies, like OSHA, will also be looking into the explosion.
Givaudan is a company that makes caramel coloring for food products and dyes for cosmetics. The vessel that failed was used to heat materials used in the company's manufacturing process.
"This particular vessel was a container that had a substance that they manufacture," Morrow said. "There is some indication that the vessel did not vent properly and that caused an overheating and explosion, an over-pressurization if you will."
Morrow also said while in talks with employees on the site of the explosion and ones that were not present, there is some indication vessel No. 6 had previous maintenance issues.
He said more information on those issues would be up to regulatory agencies and their investigations.
During a press conference on Friday, Givaudan Sense Colour President Ann Leonard said the company is devastated by Tuesday's explosion.
"We know this event has been felt deeply throughout the community, and believe me, we feel it too," she said.
Givaudan officials plan to meet with Clifton neighbors during a community forum on Monday at 6 p.m. at United Crescent Hill Ministries.
The family of one of the people killed in the explosion have retained nationally renowned attorneys.
Attorneys Ben Crump, Mark Lanier and Lonita Baker will represent the family of Givaudan employee Kevens Dawson Jr.