Thirteen people were taken to the hospital — including two in critical condition — after an ammonia leak at a food processing plant in Rhode Island, according to reports.
Authorities responded around 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, after receiving an alert about a leak at Taylor Farms in North Kingstown, local outlets WJAR, NBC Boston and WHDH reported.
“We had people coming out of the building complaining that they were smelling of ammonia with irritation to their eyes and their throats,” North Kingstown Fire Chief John Linacre told WJAR. He added that the release appeared to be vapor rather than liquid, and said the facility’s ammonia system has been shut down.
Linacre said two of the hospitalized workers were in serious condition, while the remaining 11 are expected to recover. Several people reported eye and throat irritation, WHDH noted.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management told NBC Boston that hazardous materials teams were ventilating the building. DEXON teams also arrived to decontaminate employees, WJAR reported.
Officials believe the leak started from a valve on the roof. The malfunction allowed air into the system, which pulled ammonia vapor into the facility, according to WJAR. WHDH reported that the issue was tied to the refrigeration system.
The Department of Environmental Management is continuing to investigate, NBC Boston said.
Taylor Farms previously faced enforcement action over ammonia-related incidents. WJAR reported that the company was fined $650,000 in 2023 after a 2020 leak at the same site also sent 13 people to the hospital.
In a July 2023 news release, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it and the Justice Department reached a settlement with Taylor Farms over alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Under the agreement, the company paid $650,000 and committed to safety upgrades at the North Kingstown facility, the EPA said.
