• February 22, 2017

Several Injured in Big Spring, TX, Ammonia Leak Accident

Big Spring, TX -- February 22, 2017, several injuries were reported following an accident where ammonia leaked at a water treatment plant.

Big Spring authorities reported that the leak occurred around 9:00 p.m. on February 21. The water treatment plant, located at 1601 Virginia Avenue, leaked a large amount of ammonia into the surrounding area. Reports say the ammonia tank was down to about 30% by the time it was fixed.

Many residents evacuated the area, and somewhere between 100-200 households were affected. Reports say several people were sent to the hospital, and at least twenty went of their own accord.

Emergency personnel were able to eventually contain the leak, and people were able to return to their homes around 5:00 a.m. the following morning.

Officials have stated that the accident happened after a "pop off valve" malfunctioned. This is still under investigation. No further information is currently available.

Map of the Area

Commentary

It's good to hear that this accident wasn't as serious as it could have been. Toxic chemical leaks can be very harmful to nearby residents as well as people who work at the facility, so all instances should be taken very seriously.

An accident like this warrants a thorough, independent investigation. It's easy enough for the plant to say things are fixed and under control, but there's always the chance the incident is a sign of an unsafe workplace. There have been accidents like this in the past that were the result of habitual negligence and hazardous workplace behavior.

Anytime there is an industrial accident like this one, it needs to be ensured that an accident like this one will never happen again in the future. After all, if a gas leak can cause 100 homes to evacuate, just imagine how much harm it could do to employees at the work site. Thorough investigations can find any potential dangers at a workplace and rectify them so that no one else is harmed by similar accidents in the future.

--Grossman Law Offices

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