ESCAPE OF GAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 September 1940, Page 4

ESCAPE OF GAS

MISHAP AT THE WAINGAWA WORKS. TRUCK FRACTURES AMMONIA PIPE. Some excitement and consternation was caused at Messrs Thos. Borthwick and Sons’ Waingawa Works yesterday, following the fracture of a pipe, with a consequent escape of ammonia. Although two or three men inhaled sufficient gas to make them violently ill for a few minutes, most of them escaped with nothing worse than streaming eyes and gasps for breath. The mishap occurred at about 2.30 p.m. when a rake of trucks was being shunted on to a siding between two freezing chambers. One chilled beef truck, apparently slightly higher than the others, fractured a pipe connecting the two buildings and carrying ammonia, which escaped under pressure. There was an immediate rush by men in the buildings in the neighbourhood to escape from the overpowering gas, but before many could get clear’ they suffered somewhat from the effects of the gas. Some difficulty was found in locating a gas mask, and in the meantime the ammonia was rushing from the pipe. A request was made to the Masterton Fire Brigade for assistance, and the service van was despatched with a couple of masks. Before it arrived however, the works appliance had been located, and the escaping ammonia was turned off, but not before a considerable quantity had been lost.