On October 8, 2024, at 8:15 p.m., a cylinder containing approximately 150 pounds of LIQUID anhydrous ammonia (NH3) exploded, seriously injuring four (4) employees at a plastics manufacturing facility.
On the day of the incident, the facility planned to introduce anhydrous ammonia into equipment as part of a chemical treatment in preparation for turnaround maintenance work. To supply the ammonia, the facility used a cylinder (DOT 4AA480) that contained approximately 150 pounds of LIQUID anhydrous ammonia (“cylinder”). The operations team wrapped the lower half of the cylinder with a rubber hose. This was done to allow steam to flow through the hose, enhancing heat transfer and preventing ice from forming on the cylinder’s external surface as the liquid ammonia inside vaporized.
