A chemical spill at a New Mexico cheese factory injured 20 workers, raising questions about workplace safety protocols and emergency response procedures.
At a Glance
- 20 employees were injured in a chemical spill at Southwest Cheese plant in Clovis, New Mexico
- The spill was caused by an equipment malfunction that mixed acid with chlorine, producing toxic gas
- 14 workers were hospitalized, with two in critical condition
- Emergency services contained the spill, and the plant resumed operations by late morning
- The incident has prompted a review of safety measures at the facility
Chemical Spill Causes Chaos at Cheese Factory
An industrial accident at the Southwest Cheese plant in Clovis, New Mexico, has left 20 employees injured and sparked concerns about workplace safety. The incident occurred when an equipment malfunction caused the unintended mixing of acid and chlorine, resulting in the release of toxic gas.
According to the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, the spill involved a significant amount of hazardous chemicals. “It was learned that 8.67 gallons of acid spilled and was mixed with .61 gallons of chlorine due to an equipment malfunction,” the Sheriff’s Office stated.
20 cheese factory workers injured after chemical spill at New Mexico factory releases toxic gas: police https://t.co/G3aCgKMFlJ
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Swift Emergency Response
Emergency responders were called to the scene around 9:15 a.m., and the situation was quickly addressed. “The Clovis Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team was activated and responded to the scene,” the Curry County Sheriff’s Office reported. The New Mexico State Police also assisted in containing and cleaning up the spill.
Of the 20 injured employees, 14 required hospitalization. Two workers were reported to be in critical condition, while others sustained minor injuries. The affected workers were taken to Plains Regional Medical Center and Roosevelt General Hospital for treatment.
Company Response and Safety Measures
Southwest Cheese, which processes over 5.1 billion pounds of milk and produces more than 588 million pounds of cheese annually, employs approximately 400 people. The company has been operational since 2005 and specializes in manufacturing hard cheeses and whey products using milk from local dairy farmers.
In response to the incident, the company has taken immediate action. “SWC has set up an incident response team on site who are working with local emergency services and the relevant authorities. The site was assessed and cleared to return to production by late morning,” Southwest Cheese stated.
The cause of the equipment malfunction is under investigation.
