LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives updated the investigation into the Givaudan Sense Colour on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
The ATF believes the cause of the explosion was a cooking vessel. The ATF said a tank heats up product but there wasn’t proper ventilation, likely causing the explosion. The ATF said it is an accident, but the investigation continues.
"There's some indication that the vessel did not vent properly, and that caused an overheating and explosion over pressurization, if you will," said Shawn Morrow, special agent in charge, Louisville Division ATF.
The company makes food coloring using natural sources according to its website. Givaudan has 12 operations around the world.
The ATF said its National Response Team was deployed Nov. 13 and approximately 50 personnel worked to determine the explosion's blast seat and the radius of the damage, along with the cause. More than 20 ATF agents also paired with the Louisville Metro Arson Bureau, contacting those affected by damage. Interview teams conducted more than 135 interviews and visited nearly 200 residential and business properties.
Authorities concluded their investigation Nov. 17 and turned the property back over to Givaudan.
"LFD, LMAB and ATF want to reassure the community, there is no public safety threat, no hazardous materials were a part of this explosion and this was not a nefarious act by any individual on site the day of the explosion," ATF said in a release. "Although this investigation is ongoing, the preliminary findings indicate this explosion was an industrial accident."
When asked if there were known problems with the cooking vessel, the ATF said regulatory agencies, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, would do more evaluation about those issues.
Two people died because of the explosion and 11 others were injured. Residents living nearby have damaged homes.
The family of one man killed in the blast, Keven Dawson Jr., has hired attorneys Ben Crump and Mark Lanier. Crump, represented the families of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
A news release said, “The legal team is committed to seeking justice and accountability for Keven, his family, and the entire community.”
Crump said, “The devastating explosion at the Givaudan plant has upended and destroyed lives, leaving families grieving and survivors struggling to recover. Early reports suggest serious safety lapses and ignored warnings that endangered employees and the community. We will fight tirelessly to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable.”
When the plant exploded, Dawson's girlfriend, Malaika Watson, went to check on him, but she said an employee told her Dawson wasn't there and to go to the hospital.
"I went to the hospital, to every hospital," Watson said. "I didn't make it back until 7 o'clock. She said, 'You go home.' I told her, 'No, you go home.'"
She said she went back to the plant and waited until Dawson was found hours later.
Dawson was a veteran and had three children. His 50th birthday would've been Nov. 17.
"He's an army man; he believes in 'no man left behind,'" Watson said. "Why would you leave him? Why would you leave him behind?"
The attorneys have not yet filed any lawsuit. They said they are still in the investigation phase, but all legal options are on the table. They are asking anyone with information to reach out.
A community meeting is scheduled Monday, Nov. 18 at United Crescent Hill Minitries, 150 South State Street at 6 p.m. According to Louisville Metro Councilman Andrew Owen, D-District 9, representatives from Metro Louisville and Givaudan will be at the meeting to answer questions and hear from the community affected by the explosion.
At 3 p.m. Nov. 12, Louisville Emergency Services and the Louisville Fire Department responded to an unknown explosion at the plant, formerly known as D.D. Williamson & Co. Givaudan acquired the company in 2021 and its legal name is DDW. Givaudan is its parent company, based in Switzerland.
This isn’t the first serious incident at the plant. An employee was killed on April 11, 2003. According to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation, two employees were preparing a tub and began pumping product from a tank and adding a cornstarch powder called maltin. The tub was being heated by steam and it began to overflow. According to the report, the tub exploded, killing one of the employees.