Mississippi Phosphates Corporation confirmed that an employee died during a maintenance procedure on May 21 at the company’s Gulf Coast fertilizer facility east of Pascagoula, Miss. Local press identified the man as Jeffrey Simpson, 39, of Pascagoula.
The company said in a statement that the accidental death occurred in a portion of the plant that “was not operational and there is no threat to employees or the public.” Mississippi Phosphates said it is currently in the investigation process, and will release more information as the investigation proceeds.
“We are cooperating with all responding and investigating governmental and regulatory agencies,” the company said. “At this point, our primary concern is with the family of the deceased and our other employees and their families.”
Mississippi Phosphates’ manufacturing facilities in Pascagoula consist of two sulfuric acid plants, a phosphoric acid plant, and a DAP granulation plant. DAP production capacity at the site is approximately 850,000 tons/year.