Thursday, June 25, 2009
CSB: Ammonia possible source of fatal explosion
The Chemical Safety Board is examining the role of ammonia in an explosion that killed three workers and injured several others June 9 at a ConAgra Foods meat processing plant in Garner, NC. The explosion caused the facility's roof to collapse, knocked down walls and blew debris around the area, CSB said.
CSB investigator Don Holmstrom said in a statement (.pdf file) that a large quantity of hazardous ammonia was used at the plant and was regulated under the EPA Risk Management Program and the OSHA process safety management standard. Holmstrom said responders to the incident reported to CSB that ammonia from the plant's refrigeration system was discharged into local surface waters; harmful levels of ammonia were detected in a nearby creek.