By Gerald Witt
News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.)
Copyright 2006 News & Record
EDEN, N.C. — A 56-year-old man was in stable condition after exposure to ammonia at the Miller Brewing Co. on Wednesday morning.
The worker, whose name has not been released, was near an ammonia safety relief valve that released the gas about 10:40 a.m.
A Rockingham County EMS ambulance took him to Morehead Memorial Hospital, where he was placed in the intensive care unit and listed in critical condition, hospital officials said. His condition was later upgraded.
Two other men were treated at the hospital and released at in relation to the accident, a hospital spokesman said. Miller officials would not identify the three men or give details of their injuries.
The gas, anhydrous ammonia, is a water-free form of pressurized liquid ammonia that can cause burns and respiratory irritation. It turns into a gas upon contact with air, Rockingham County Fire Marshal Robert Cardwell said. In extreme cases it can cause blindness and death.
Miller spokeswoman Julie Kubasa said the gas is commonly used as a refrigerant in brewing.
If a tank becomes over pressurized, a safety valve opens until a safe pressure level is met.
“Those folks were just in that area (near the valve),” Kubasa said.
Immediately after the incident, Miller’s safety management team treated the injured man until the ambulance arrived. Crews from the Eden Fire Department also responded.
An internal investigation is under way at the plant, Kubasa said. She said the 56-year-old was an employee of Succo, a painting contractor hired by Miller.
Efforts Wednesday to locate Succo officials were unsuccessful. The county will not investigate because the accident happened inside the plant, Cardwell said. However, federal officials are expected to visit.
Doug Jones, a compliance supervisor for the Occupational Safety & Health Administration office in Winston-Salem, said his office is not required to get involved based on the extent of the injuries. But the chemical in the event changes that.
“I’m sure we will get involved with an ammonia spill,” he said.