Beshear mourns victims and calls for transparency in Louisville explosion investigation

Following the explosion at the Givaudan Sense Color factory in Louisville Clifton area On Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear said he believes the company should be transparent about the incident and reassure neighbors that steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Beshear discussed the incident Thursday during his weekly Team Kentucky news conference and said his primary focus is on the people killed by the blast.

“The main thing I’m focusing on is those two individuals who went to work that day and should have gotten home safely to their families,” he said.

He added: “I believe that any business that has an explosion in a community should be there to talk to the neighbors and assure them that they will take reasonable steps.”

Givaudan Global Content and Communications Director Jeff Peppet confirmed that company representatives will appear at a community meeting at United Crescent Hill Ministries, located at 150 State St. in the Clifton neighborhood, on Monday at 6 p.m.

In response to a request from Mayor Craig Greenberg, Givaudan officials also released a phone number and email address for the public to contact the company with questions or concerns, the mayor said in a post on social media.

Residents can reach the company by calling 1-800-856-3333 or emailing [email protected].

Beshear acknowledged that long-awaited answers should emerge as progress is made in the ongoing research is led by the Louisville Division of Fire, along with other local agencies and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Still, Beshear said it is the company’s responsibility to come forward publicly after an incident that has affected countless people. Residents near the site of the explosion reported feeling a powerful blow as their windows opened nearby homes and businesses were blown up by the explosion and rubble and shrapnel were scattered in the yards of some neighboring houses.

“In order to operate where they operate, they have to be active in that community and first tell people what happened, or tell them that they are committed to finding out what happened, and then be completely transparent about it , because we certainly will,” said Beshear.

Answers will be provided to the community when the investigation is complete, Beshear said, and any lessons that can be learned to prevent future harm will be emphasized.

“We will get to the bottom of it, make sure we have all the facts when the investigation is complete, share those facts and then, if there are lessons learned, we can take them and pass them on to other companies that are left out . we have to go there.”

Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at [email protected] or at @bkillian72 on.

This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: KY Gov. Beshear calls for transparency in Louisville plant explosion