FARMERS UNION OIL COMPANY

EMPLOYEE KILLED WHEN EXPOSED TO ANHYDROUS AMMONIA

FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, EMPLOYEE #1 PULLED THE NURSE TANK AWAY FROM THE FILL STATIO N, BREAKING OFF THE PIPE AT THE EXCESS FLOW VALVE. THIS RELEASED THE FULL FLOW O F AMMONIA THAT WAS BEING PUMPED. THE EMPLOYEE APPARENTLY BECAME DISORIENTED AND DROVE IN A CIRCLE, BACK TO THE FILL PUMP, WHERE THE TRACTOR ENGINE DIED. HE WAS FOUND HALFWAY INTO A LARGE STOCK TANK WHICH HAD BEEN FILLED WITH WATER TO BE USE D IN AMMONINA SPILL EMERGENCIES. ACCORDING TO THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN, THE EMPLO YEE DIED OF "CHEMICAL ASPHYXIATION".