The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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November 20, 2009

Funeral today for man exposed to ammonia

HASTINGS, Minn. — The funeral is today for a Kingfisher man who died Monday here after being exposed to anhydrous ammonia during an apparent work accident.

Robert Larry Shue, 30, died after a connection problem led to the leak. Another Oklahoma man, Roy Thomas Taylor, 56, of Moore, was injured during the incident and was in critical condition at a Hastings hospital.

The funeral for Shue is 10 a.m. today in Kingfisher.

According to a police report, rescue crews responded to the anhydrous ammonia leak in the semi-tank loader area at CF Industries around 6 p.m. Monday. Both victims were loading their tankers when the leak occurred. According to a press release from the Rosemount (Minn.) Police Department, one of the men noticed a connection problem and attempted to correct it. There was then a break in the connection and a release of ammonia.

Press reports say a CF employee quickly shut down the loading station. Others in the facility at the time witnessed the incident and tried to aid the victims, but the ammonia prevented them from helping.

Shue died at the scene, and Taylor was pulled about 35 feet away and was treated before being taken to the hospital, according to press reports. Police officers responding at the scene were exposed to residue on the victims and were taken to the hospital for observation before being released.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been called in to investigate the accident, according to press reports.

CF Industries is one of the largest fertilizer producers in North America. The Pine Bend Ammonia Terminal, as it is known, ships ammonia to customers by truck, according to the company’s Web site.

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