24 Workers Hospitalised After Ammonia Leak At Festive Chicken In Ekurhuleni

Twenty-four employees have been hospitalised following an ammonia leak at the Festive Chicken plant in Ekurhuleni on Wednesday afternoon.

The incident reportedly occurred during routine maintenance after a pressure-release valve experienced a technical failure, exposing workers to ammonia fumes. Several employees reportedly suffered respiratory distress.

Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Services responded to the incident and evacuated the facility while emergency teams dealt with the leak.

Ammonia Leak At Festive Chicken Plant

According to Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Services spokesperson Eric Maloka, maintenance work at the facility had started at approximately 06:00.

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The valve reportedly failed at around 16:23, resulting in employees inhaling ammonia fumes. Twenty-four workers were subsequently hospitalised.

Emergency Teams Evacuate Workers

Emergency personnel intervened to contain the situation and monitor ammonia levels at the plant.

Maloka said the levels had eventually returned to zero, allowing employees to return to work after the intervention.

“Preliminary information indicates that routine maintenance work had been conducted at the facility from approximately 06:00.

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"At around 16:23, one of the pressure-release valves reportedly experienced a technical failure, resulting in employees inhaling ammonia fumes. Following the successful intervention and confirmation that ammonia levels had returned to zero, employees were given the go-ahead to return to work.”

The incident left 24 workers requiring hospital treatment following exposure to the fumes.

Authorities have not provided further details about the employees' conditions or the extent of their injuries.