An employee of the DuPont plant in Belle died over the weekend after being exposed to the chemical phosgene. DuPont Washington Works spokeswoman Robin Ollis Stemple said the Wood County site does not use this chemical.

She said the Wood County plant makes engineered polymers and fluoropolymers meanwhile the Belle plant makes crop protection chemicals. Therefore Stemple said the Wood County site does not use phosgene nor methyl chloride.

Last week methyl chloride and sulfuric acid reportedly leaked at the Belle site.

Stemple said the Washington Works plant uses sulfuric acid in support of the plant operations but it is not used in production.

Regardless of the chemicals Stemple said there are basic safety principles that apply to all plants and safety is the primary concern.
The Associated Press reported DuPont officials put the sprawling Belle plant on safety shutdown over the weekend after three leaks were reported and one leak went unnoticed for a week.