Uploaded February 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
A video of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigation into the explosion at pharmaceutical product manufacture Napp Technologies (Napp) facility in New Jersey, on April 21, 1995. On morning, a violent explosion and fire occurred at the Napp specialty chemical plant in Lodi, New Jersey. Five employees of Napp ultimately died (four employees were fatally injured at the site, the fifth employee died several days later due to injuries related to the event). A majority of the facility was destroyed as a result of the fire, and other businesses near the facility were destroyed or significantly damaged. Approximately 300 residents in the area were evacuated from their homes and a school. Additionally, firefighting efforts generated chemically contaminated water that ran off into the streets and nearby Saddle River. At the time of the explosion and fire, Napp was conducting a blending operation involving water-reactive chemicals. The chemical mixing portion of the operation, which should have been completed in less than an hour, continued for nearly 24 hours. Operators noticed an unexpected reaction taking place in the blender, producing increasing heat and release of foul-smelling gas over time. The joint chemical accident investigation team (JCAIT) formed by OSHA and EPA determined that the most likely cause of the accident was the inadvertent introduction of water/heat into water-reactive materials (aluminum powder and sodium hydrosulfite) during the mixing operation. The water caused sodium hydrosulfite in the blender to decompose, generating heat, sulfur dioxide, and additional water. The decomposition process, once started, was self-sustaining. The reaction generated sufficient heat to cause the aluminum powder to rapidly react with the other ingredients and generate more heat. During an emergency operation to off-load the blender of its reacting contents, the material ignited and a deflagration occurred which resulted in the deaths of the Napp employees and destruction of the facility. For more on this explosion, read the EPA/OSHA Joint Chemical Accident Investigation Report Napp Technologies, Inc. Lodi, New Jersey, October 1997 at archive.epa.gov/emergencies/docs/chem/web/pdf/napp.pdf. This video is one of 129 created by the wonderful Environmental Response Television (ERTV) which provides video support to U.S. EPA's Environmental Response Team (ERT). ERTV responds to request for the ERT to provide broadcast-quality documentary video programs on alternative hazardous waste treatment technologies, unique hazardous waster sites, site investigations, and other ERT activities.
A video of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigation into the explosion at pharmaceutical product manufacture Napp Technologies (Napp) facility in New Jersey, on April 21, 1995. On morning, a violent explosion and fire occurred at the Napp specialty chemical plant in Lodi, New Jersey. Five employees of Napp ultimately died (four employees were fatally injured at the site, the fifth employee died several days later due to injuries related to the event). A majority of the facility was destroyed as a result of the fire, and other businesses near the facility were destroyed or significantly damaged. Approximately 300 residents in the area were evacuated from their homes and a school. Additionally, firefighting efforts generated chemically contaminated water that ran off into the streets and nearby Saddle River. At the time of the explosion and fire, Napp was conducting a blending operation involving water-reactive chemicals. The chemical mixing portion of the operation, which should have been completed in less than an hour, continued for nearly 24 hours. Operators noticed an unexpected reaction taking place in the blender, producing increasing heat and release of foul-smelling gas over time. The joint chemical accident investigation team (JCAIT) formed by OSHA and EPA determined that the most likely cause of the accident was the inadvertent introduction of water/heat into water-reactive materials (aluminum powder and sodium hydrosulfite) during the mixing operation. The water caused sodium hydrosulfite in the blender to decompose, generating heat, sulfur dioxide, and additional water. The decomposition process, once started, was self-sustaining. The reaction generated sufficient heat to cause the aluminum powder to rapidly react with the other ingredients and generate more heat. During an emergency operation to off-load the blender of its reacting contents, the material ignited and a deflagration occurred which resulted in the deaths of the Napp employees and destruction of the facility. For more on this explosion, read the EPA/OSHA Joint Chemical Accident Investigation Report Napp Technologies, Inc. Lodi, New Jersey, October 1997 at archive.epa.gov/emergencies/docs/chem/web/pdf/napp.pdf. This video is one of 129 created by the wonderful Environmental Response Television (ERTV) which provides video support to U.S. EPA's Environmental Response Team (ERT). ERTV responds to request for the ERT to provide broadcast-quality documentary video programs on alternative hazardous waste treatment technologies, unique hazardous waster sites, site investigations, and other ERT activities.
