06/10/2010 // WPB, FL, USA // Nicole Howley // Nicole Howley
Minneapolis, MN—The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined a Rosemount fertilizer plant and an Oklahoma firm for a fatal accident, which left two people dead. Last November, two truckers were killed when they were exposed to anhydrous ammonia while loading the toxic gas, as reported by the Star Tribune.
Minnesota OSHA officials investigated whether the trucking firm, High Pressure Transports of Kingfisher, Okla., had properly trained the workers to load and unload the poisonous gas. On Tuesday, June 8, 2010, officials issued the trucking firm a $25,000 penalty. OSHA documents indicated the company also failed to provide safe working conditions.
CF Industries was also fined $1,400 for failing to ensure all emergency respirators had monthly inspections in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Neither company fought the citations.
The November 16, 2009 workplace accident left Robert Shue, 31, of Kingfisher dead at the scene. Roy Thomas Taylor, 56, f Moore, Okla. died two weeks after the accident at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
As previously reported by Justice News Flash, the anhydrous ammonia apparently leaked from a faulty connection between a supply tank and the tanker truck, creating a vapor cloud. The two workers were reportedly picking up loads of ammonia, when they had connection troubles between a pipe delivering the gas and the tank of the truck. The high-pressure pipe apparently dislodged, causing the leak.
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for Minnesota personal injury lawyers.
Media Information:
Address:
Phone: 866-598-1315
Url: http://NicoleHowley.visionsmartnews.com/rosemount-mn-workplace-accident-osha-cites-firms-over-fatal-ammonia-exposure_771.html
