NH3 response praised; up to 1,000 evacuated

Louisville, Ky.-Louisville emergency response said JBS Swift plant personnel did everything right after detecting an anhydrous ammonia release at their plant here last Wednesday afternoon (March 23). “They did everything that they should have done,” reported Jim Bottom, ER technological hazards coordinator. Bottom wasn’t certain how much leaked from the system, but described the problem as a mechanical failure when readings exceeded safe levels. Fire officials told the local press that the leak didn’t appear to be coming from a rupture, but could have been caused by a compressor failure. They said although the vapors were contained inside the plant, the decision was to have businesses and school students within a quarter of a mile shelter-in-place. Between 800 and 1,000 workers were evacuated for a couple of hours. One plant worker was taken to the hospital after becoming nauseated and vomiting, but he didn’t work in the portion of the plant where the leak occurred. “The incident occurred on fairly new equipment,” Bottom explained. “It was not like antiquated equipment built to current standards.”