(Worthington, Mn.)– Minnesota OSHA will investigate an ammonia leak that sickened more than 50 workers at a pork processing plant in Worthington.
An OSHA spokesman says the state division gets involved whenever three or more employees are sent to the hospital.
Officials say the leak happened Tuesday at JBS, formerly Swift and Co.
JBS spokesman Chandler Keys says 53 people went to a hospital for observation. Five patients were admitted, but Keys says everyone was released by 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Keys says the company will “fully cooperate” with OSHA.
It’s the second incident involving ammonia exposure at the Worthington plant in 17 months. In January 2008, a drain valve connected to a cooler in the plant burst, exposing 34 workers.
(Story from the Associated Press.).
