(The Center Square) – The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited a Georgia company that was the site of a September 2024 that caused a chemical haze.
BioLab, in Conyers, was fined $61,473 in penalties for what the agency called four serious and two other-than-serious violations. The fires started in a company warehouse that stored various chemicals, according to the agency.
A spokesperson said the company is cooperating with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“OSHA’s investigation did not focus on the cause of the incident, and the agency shared no findings with the company that would substantiate the statement in the press release about the cause,” the company said in a statement. “Consistent with our commitment to working collaboratively with OSHA, we continue to dialogue with the agency and its representatives as we work together to further enhance our safety procedures for the future.”
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency said at the time of the fire that it caused an elevation in chlorine levels. Residents remained under a shelter-in-place warning for weeks.
The company is facing multiple lawsuits, including one from the Rockdale County Commission, which sued BioLab in the U.S. District Court in December.
BioLab set up a Community Resources website shortly after the fire. Company officials said it received more than 43,000 calls and 18,000 emails in addition to helping 5,000 individuals.
The company said on its Community Resources webpage that it plans to stop fielding phone calls about claims on Friday but would still take email inquiries.
“BioLab has now processed the vast majority of remaining claims,” the company said.
