Sunset Strong
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
October 3, 2024
AB Specialty Silicones (“ABSS”) will never forget the tragic event which occurred on May 3, 2019. While ABSS will forever remember the loss of our colleagues and friends, we are extraordinarily proud of our ability to rebuild and grow after this horrific accident. Today, five years later, ABSS is a bigger, better, stronger, and safer company than ever before. Our commitment to safety is unwavering and our tremendous efforts in that regard were what led to the settlement agreement reached with OSHA. We are greatly disappointed, however, by the recent press release issued by OSHA. It is misleading and fails to recognize the extraordinary actions taken by ABSS immediately following the accident and prior to any agreement between the parties.
The settlement agreement with OSHA helps bring closure to the tragic event which occurred on May 3, 2019. We will continue to strive to be a leader and at the forefront of safety programs for the betterment of our employees, community, and industry.
MEMORIAL DEDICATION
May 3rd, 2024
Team AB dedicated The May 3 Memorial Garden Friday in Waukegan, five years to the day after the explosion took four lives and injured three others, giving the workers workers a place to reflect and remember. Full Article Here
April 16, 2024
This year marks the five-year anniversary of the tragedy that occurred on May 3rd.
In memory of the four lives lost on that fateful day, a garden has been built and will be dedicated in honor of Allen, Byron, Daniel, and Jeff. The garden was carefully planned out by AB and professionally designed by a landscape architect. The layout features four quadrants with their own unique garden landscape, each dedicated to one of the people that was lost. Local stone was used to build benches in all four areas, each facing a memorial plaque.
The mainly native plants were carefully selected to offer blooms or foliage year-round, the goal being to create a peaceful place for visitors to come and remember their loved ones
MAY 3RD, 2019
Tragically, on the night of May 3rd, 2019 we lost four members of our AB family in an explosion at our plant:
Byron Biehn, 53, of Union Grove, WI. Byron was the 2nd Shift Production Supervisor, had been with AB Specialty Silicones for 9 years, and was an owner of the company.
Jeff Cummings, 57, of Kenosha, WI. Jeffrey was the 3rd Shift Production Supervisor and spent 7 years with AB Specialty Silicones.
Allen Stevens, 29, of Paddock Lake, WI. Allen was the 2nd Shift Chemical Operator, had spent 2 years with AB Specialty Silicones, and was an owner of the company.
Daniel Nicklas, 24, of Beach Park, IL. Daniel was a Quality Control Chemist and had been with AB Specialty Silicones for 8 months.
