Smithfield Foods temporarily closes pork plant over ammonia leak

Smithfield Foods has temporarily closed its slaughterhouse and pork processing plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina, US, following an ammonia leak on 17 June.

The ammonia leak occurred after a large water tank, which supplies hot water to the killing and cutting floors, collapsed and hit the valve of a reserve ammonia tank.

About 2,400 workers were immediately evacuated from the facility, and around 15 workers received medical attention.

The North Carolina Highway 87 was temporarily closed as emergency responders transported workers across the highway to Tar Heel Middle School; the highway was reopened around 3pm.

According to the company, the leak was minor and is now contained.

The incident is currently under investigation.

Smithfield spokesman Dennis Pittman said that he did not know when the plant would reopen, but that the management would make a decision once the plant is cleaned up completely.

Responding to the incident, Governor Pat McCrory said: "The state emergency response team was on the scene shortly after the incident occurred to assist local first responders, and I called Mayor Roy Dew to offer any support his community may need.

"We’re thankful there were no serious injuries at the plant, and we will continue to work with local authorities and the state Department of Labor during the upcoming investigation into this accident."

The slaughterhouse and processing plant in Tar Heel is the largest in the world, with a daily processing capacity of about 34,000 hogs a day.

In May 2012, a similar ammonia leak occurred at the plant, leading to the hospitalisation of six workers.

Smithfield Foods, a US-based pork producer and processor, is a wholly independent subsidiary of China’s WH Group.