Victims in Deadly Ammonia Leak ID’d

The victim killed in an ammonia leak in Rosemount was identified, along with his coworker who was injured.

The driver was identified as 30-year-old Robert Shue of Kingfisher, Oklahoma. He died on the scene. Another driver, Roy Taylor also of Oklahoma, is in critical condition at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

The leak occurred at the CF Industries Pine Bend Ammonia Terminal in Rosemount. The driver died Monday night trying to load liquid anhydrous ammonia into his tanker. The manager says driver had his truck inspected and was loading his tanker when the accident happened.

The process involves an articulating loading arm of pipe that looks similar to this one. The police report says the driver noticed a problem with his connection and attempted to fix it when the connection broke.

Two rescuers were also injured trying to help the drivers. One of them was Rosemount Police Officer Scott Sandell. He was treated at Regions Hospital, along with Dakota County Deputy Matt Schuster.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, anhydrous ammonia it attacks the mucous membranes of the body. It causes swelling in the lungs to the point of suffocation… The chemical reacts with the moisture on the membranes to form ammonium hydroxide which dissolves and burns the tissues.

In farm country, anhydrsous ammonia is the most widely used fertilizer available. Farmers are now harvesting their crops by injecting the ammonia into the ground to prepare it for next years growing season.

Accidents are extremely rare especially at CF Industries, which according to OSHA has a stellar safety record.

Plant Manager Brian Spencer says the plant has gone 43 years without a single lost time injury. Even OSHA says it’s an outstanding record. An OSHA spokesman says the company’s plant in Glenwood was even awarded a Safety and Health Award in 2003.