Louisiana Chemical Plant Workers Killed

Louisiana State Police say two workers were overcome by a chemical and died at a chlorine factory being built south of Plaquemine.

Lt. Doug Cain says that about 1 p.m. Sunday, troopers received a call on their Hazmat hotline that the two people were unconscious.

He says the first person overcome was a contractor who had gone in the confined space to retrieve tools.

Cain says a company representative then went into the container and also was killed.

He says investigators aren’t sure what chemical killed the workers. Autopsies are scheduled for Monday.

An after-hours call to the company was not immediately returned.

According to Shintech’s website, the 1,700-acre site has been under construction since 2005. It says the plant will make chlorine, caustic soda and other chemicals.