Clontarf, Minn.-Two workers injured in an anhydrous ammonia release April 28 at Johnson Fertilizer in this western Minnesota town are making “tremendous progress” in their recovery, according to a member of the Johnson family. Both suffered severe chemical burns while working on an applicator hose that contained anhydrous under pressure. According to the Swift County sheriff’s office, which received the call at 10:35 a.m., the 10-foot hose had already been removed for maintenance when it ruptured and released the vapor. The injured workers were taken by ambulance to the Swift County-Benson Hospital, where they were airlifted to Regions Burn Center in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Twin Cities. They were identified as Leon Beam, 41, of Benson, and Thomas Lindstrom, 62, of Clontarf. Owner Dave Johnson was not available, but a Johnson family member said that Lindstrom was to be released from the hospital April 23 and Beam was out of intensive care and had learned that he won’t lose his sight from the exposure. The contact at Johnson said the small amount of product had been left in the hose since last fall.
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