Koch Nitrogen Co. is releasing none of the details regarding what Koch is calling a “big over-pressurized blast” at its Beatrice, Neb., plant shortly before 5 a.m. last Friday, Aug. 17, that left one worker in the hospital with serious injuries.
“We transported one patient to Beatrice Community Hospital and the second patient with serious injuries to BryanLGH West in Lincoln about 35 miles away,” Beatrice Fire Chief Brian Daake told Green Markets. “I know they were shut down for maintenance at the time.” Both the injured were reported to be contract employees. “There was no fire and no hazardous materials were released although they’ve got all kinds of that stuff out there.” He said Koch plant is located about six miles out of town and is in the jurisdiction of the Beatrice volunteer rural fire district. Neither Rural District Fire Chief Jim Engel nor Assistant Chief Gary Wiese was available but Daake said the rural district responded with eight fire fighters and the city with two ambulances.