Olymel pork plant in Quebec closed after ammonia leak
by The Canadian Press
Leak forced 350 workers from plant in Vallee-Jonction, Que., south of Quebec City
MONTREAL—Olymel has temporarily closed a Quebec pork processing plant after an ammonia leak Aug. 12 that sent nine workers to hospital.
The employees have since returned home.
Emergency services with specialized equipment worked overnight to stop the leak and remove the gas that forced 350 workers from the plant in Vallee-Jonction, Que., south of Quebec City.
Authorities are investigating to determine the cause of the leak before operations resume.
Olymel said it was co-operating with officials and will inform the plant’s 1,000 employees when operations can resume.
Ammonia gas is used to help quickly freeze meat.
Olymel, which slaughters, processes and distributes pork and poultry, has operations in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick.
