Ammonia leak leaves 7 hospitalized, 1 in critical condition in North Attleborough

An ammonia leak in a North Attleborough building left one worker in critical condition and six others hospitalized on Tuesday, authorities said.

There is no current threat to the public, North Attleborough Fire Chief Chris Coleman said in a press conference.

The North Attleborough Fire Department responded to a report of an ammonia leak inside an industrial building around 10 a.m. after a maintenance worker accidentally cut a pipe connected to a 2,000 gallon tank of ammonia, Coleman said. 

The department evacuated a business near the leak “as a precaution,” Coleman said. 

A hazmat team arrived on the scene to stop the leak and ensure all other pipes were shut down. Coleman confirmed the leak is closed off, but it will take a bit more time to ensure the building will be safe to enter. North Attleborough fire, along with several other local fire departments, are in the “beginning stages” of a much larger cleanup operation, he said.

When in gaseous form, ammonia can cause harsh irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat. Contact with liquid ammonia can cause severe burns.

“With an incident like this, we investigate, we isolate, and we don’t let anybody in the building,” Coleman said. 

Eva Levin

Eva Levin is a general assignment co-op for Boston.com. She covers breaking and local news in Boston and beyond.

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