Deadly Hazmat Incident At Food Processing Plant Kills 1; Another Rushed To Hospital

One man died and another was hospitalized after being exposed to an industrial chemical while working at a food processing plant in Massachusetts Monday.

The fire alarm went off following an ammonia leak at Home Market Foods on Morgan Drive in Norwood. Levels of ammonia inside the fresh and frozen meat facility had reached 20 times what would be considered lethal, CBSNews reported.

The city's fire department responded to the scene after the leak, and only hazmat teams were allowed to go inside the building. About 150 employees were removed from the facility. No foul play was indicated after the initial review of the incident.

"It was very dangerous. We had to pull our people back. They tried to get to the victim that was left in there for quite a while," Norwood Fire Chief David Hayes said, as per the outlet.

Home Market Foods said the incident involved heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors.

"As they were working, it appears an ammonia pipe was severed. One of the contractors was able to escape with injuries. Tragically the second contractor did not make it out and he died. Our hearts go out to his family. It is just so sad and horrific," the company said in a statement released following the incident, according to the outlet.

The deceased has been identified as Richard Arguin, a 68-year-old Dighton resident. He was wheeled out of the facility on a stretcher and pronounced dead from the leak.

Jarret Bennet, a truck driver who arrived at the facility to make a delivery before the alarm went off, said he could smell the ammonia while he was parked out back and knew something was wrong. "Strong, strong, strong odor," the outlet quoted him as saying.

He also shared that he saw the worker who was injured in the incident. "He was on his knees, vomiting blood. His shoulder is messed up, seemed like he fell off of something," Bennett reportedly recalled.

The said worker was stabilized and brought to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton before being moved to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is currently receiving specialized care, The Boston Globe reported.

The district attorney's office classified the leak as a Tier 2 hazardous materials incident, according to the outlet.

Authorities with the Norfolk District Attorney's Office, Norwood police and fire personnel, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the State Fire Marshal's Office continue to investigate the deadly leak.