Eight hospitalised at Meatco
A leak in a refrigeration pipe at Meatco’s Windhoek plant yesterday caused an emergency evacuation after eight workers were hospitalised by corrosive ammonia gas.
ELLANIE SMIT
An ammonia gas leak at the Meatco abattoir in Windhoek’s northern industrial area has put eight employees in hospital, one in critical condition.
Seventy carcasses were contaminated by the ammonia.
An ammonia pipe burst at a freezer in the dispatch area yesterday morning at around 10:00 and certain areas of the plant are still shut down.
According to Meatco spokesperson Rosa Thobias, operations were halted for five hours and some areas remained off limits until further notice.
Ammonia is a colourless gas with a strong odour and is used as an industrial refrigerant for Meatco’s freezers.
Thobias said hundreds of employees had to be evacuated as a safety measure. About 671 employees were in the plant when the leak happened.
“As part of our emergency plan we evacuated everybody in the plant to determine the level of damage to the cooling system.”
When Namibian Sun arrived at the scene just before 11:00 an ambulance and other emergency vehicles were rushing workers to hospital, while other staff were gathered outside the factory.
By yesterday afternoon Thobias confirmed that seven employees had been exposed to ammonia and one of them was in critical condition.
Thobias said all the workers were taken to the Lady Pohamba Private Hospital in Windhoek. “Some of the employees are under surveillance for further check-up.”
Thobias said Meatco had not determined the extent of the damage yet.
As part of Meatco’s emergency plan the City of Windhoek’s emergency services were called in to assist.
“We will update the public if any other staff are hospitalised and the company is working hard to contain the leak,” Thobias said.
She further said the 70 contaminated carcasses would be evaluated by Meatco together with the Directorate of Veterinary Services.
Ammonia is considered a high health hazard because it is corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs. Ammonia is also flammable at certain concentrations. When mixed with lubricating oils, its flammable concentration range is increased. It can explode if released in an enclosed space with a source of ignition present.
The side effects of inhaling ammonia include irritation of the respiratory system, coughing, and burning of the nose. When inhaled in excess it could harm the lungs.
An ammonia gas leak at the Meatco abattoir in Windhoek’s northern industrial area has put eight employees in hospital, one in critical condition.
Seventy carcasses were contaminated by the ammonia.
An ammonia pipe burst at a freezer in the dispatch area yesterday morning at around 10:00 and certain areas of the plant are still shut down.
According to Meatco spokesperson Rosa Thobias, operations were halted for five hours and some areas remained off limits until further notice.
Ammonia is a colourless gas with a strong odour and is used as an industrial refrigerant for Meatco’s freezers.
Thobias said hundreds of employees had to be evacuated as a safety measure. About 671 employees were in the plant when the leak happened.
“As part of our emergency plan we evacuated everybody in the plant to determine the level of damage to the cooling system.”
When Namibian Sun arrived at the scene just before 11:00 an ambulance and other emergency vehicles were rushing workers to hospital, while other staff were gathered outside the factory.
By yesterday afternoon Thobias confirmed that seven employees had been exposed to ammonia and one of them was in critical condition.
Thobias said all the workers were taken to the Lady Pohamba Private Hospital in Windhoek. “Some of the employees are under surveillance for further check-up.”
Thobias said Meatco had not determined the extent of the damage yet.
As part of Meatco’s emergency plan the City of Windhoek’s emergency services were called in to assist.
“We will update the public if any other staff are hospitalised and the company is working hard to contain the leak,” Thobias said.
She further said the 70 contaminated carcasses would be evaluated by Meatco together with the Directorate of Veterinary Services.
Ammonia is considered a high health hazard because it is corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs. Ammonia is also flammable at certain concentrations. When mixed with lubricating oils, its flammable concentration range is increased. It can explode if released in an enclosed space with a source of ignition present.
The side effects of inhaling ammonia include irritation of the respiratory system, coughing, and burning of the nose. When inhaled in excess it could harm the lungs.
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