by Dale Moerke
Yesterday at approximately 10:00 A.M. a portion of the JBS Swift plant was evacuated due to an ammonia leak. The Worthington Daily Globe was on the scene and covers the story in 40 JBS employees treated after ammonia leak. Daily Globe photographer Brian Korthals was able to take a few pictures from the roof of a vehicle just outside the JBS property (we watched you from the cafeteria windows).
I was one of the many evacuees who hastily left the building and fortunately was not affected by ammonia. The group of employees I was with were at the back of the property for about 35 minutes when we were told we could reenter the building through the front and proceed to the facilities cafeteria which was unaffected by the leak. I was then able to get a better idea of what was going on because I had a good view of all the emergency vehicles that were gathered outside the front of the building. My thoughts were with the brothers and sisters who were being transported to the hospital. I hoped that they would all be ok and according to published reports most were treated and released with only a few admitted for further observation. The leak was contained and after the affected areas were cleared of the ammonia we returned to work.
UFCW Local 1161 officials were on the scene and will be actively involved in the ensuing investigation of the cause of the leak and the effectiveness of the evacuation. I have my own observations and thoughts which I will share with the Local 1161 and JBS Swift.
Ammonia leaks are serious.
They can be deadly.
Read the rest at Dale Moerke's blog, Corner House Comments.
A resident of Luverne, Dale Moerke blogs about labor issues, progressive politics, family and Southwestern Minnesota at Corner House Comments. A member of UFCW Local 1161, Moerke drives a forklift in the JBS Swift plant in Worthington. Bluestem Prairie solicited this post, first published at CHC, when we learned of the ammonia leak in the plant.
Photo via Workday Minnesota.
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