Rosemount plant, employer cited for fatal accident

Two companies were fined following a state OSHA investigation into the deaths of two truck drivers at a Twin Cities fertilizer distributor.

The two Oklahoma men, Robert Shue and Roy Taylor, died last fall after ammonia leaked during a loading procedure at CF Industries in Rosemount. The men worked for an Oklahoma trucking company that was delivering the toxic compound to the CF terminal.

CF Industries was fined $1400 for failing to inspect its emergency respirators every month.

The trucking company, High Pressure Transports, was fined $25,000 for failing to provide a safe working environment. OSHA documents also cited the company for not properly training its employees in how to handle ammonia.

Both companies paid the fines and have corrected their practices, according to a Minnesota OSHA spokesman.