Slim Jim plant collapse in North Carolina...

[liberal N proud]

2 missing, 20 injured in N.C. Slim Jim plant collapse

By Alysia Patterson, Associated Press
GARNER, North Carolina — Officials now say only two people are unaccounted for after an explosion at a Slim Jim meat products plant in North Carolina.
Emergency Medical Services official Jeffrey Hammerstein says a third person initially declared missing was found and went to the hospital along with 20 other people. He says authorities were still searching for two others but it wasn't clear whether they were inside the building.

Hammerstein said five injured people were tagged as priority patients with serious conditions.

Garner Mayor Ronnie Williams said injuries ranged from burns to smoke inhalation. Emergency crews were keeping people away because of concerns about the smell of ammonia.

"There is a toxic cloud on and about the plant," Williams said.

Officials said at a news conference that firefighters were still trying to contain a small fire and an ammonia leak.

The site produces Slim Jim products. Williams said several people reported hearing an explosion before the building partially collapsed.

"We're still working evacuating anybody else that was still in the building and treating people that were injured," said Lt. Chris Hagwood, a spokesman for the Garner Police Department.

About 900 people work at the 50,000-square foot plant, which is considered one of ConAgra's largest, said Dave Jackson, a spokesman for the Omaha-based company. He said he did not yet know how many people were in the plant at the time of the collapse and the company was not sure about the cause yet.

"Obviously our first priority is the safety of our employees and the community and making sure our employees are accounted for and working with them to get them whatever they might need," he said.

ConAgra is sending a team of experts to the facility and is helping local authorities.

ConAgra Foods Inc. makes brands like Chef Boyardee, Hunt's tomato sauce, ACT II popcorn and Hebrew National hot dogs. It has 25,000 employees worldwide.

The plant was last inspected by the North Carolina Department of Labor for workplace safety last July and no violations were found, said Labor Department spokeswoman Dolores Quesenberry.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-06-09-NC_plant_collapse_N.htm?csp=34

[madinmaryland]

1. "There is a toxic cloud on and about the plant," Now would anyone

want to eat Slim Jims after hearing that?

:scared:

[bdamomma]

2. Slim Jim's are a toxic cloud.

[DJ13]

5. ....especially after you eat them

[Another Bill C.]

7. It could be ammonia from the refrigerations system. n/t

n/t

[piedmont]

11. I was typing my reply when yours posted. +1 nt

[liberal N proud]

14. Refrigerant systems in meat processing facilities typically use ammonia

[piedmont]

9. The ammonia was probably used as refrigerent, like R-134a in your car AC.

Gotta keep the meat cool.

[ananda]

3. I'm amazed that anyone would eat Slim Jims period!

nt

[Beetwasher]

4. Slim Jim's Can Explode???

Who knew?

[conscious evolution]

10. They make my butt explode

But thats another topic for another day.

[JVS]

12. Have you learned nothing from Macho Man Randy Savage's commercials?

[meegbear]

15. EAT ME!!

Now those commercials were annoying!

[JVS]

6. Somebody must have eaten one off the line. This happens when you SNAP INTO A SLIM JIM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXTagE7BtRU&feature=PlayList&p=78442645634788E3&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=39

[11 Bravo]

8. I swear to God, I had just finished a Slim Jim when I saw this thread.

They are my guilty pleasure. I know they're bad for me, but damn, they taste great!

[bdamomma]

13. they may be good to you but filled with chemicals.

my daughters try to sneak those when I go grocery shopping and I say NO WAY.

[Rebubula]

18. Mmmmm....

....chemical goodness.

Life is dangerous and ends in death....go ahead and eat the disgustingly good stuff.....

[HamdenRice]

16. Aren't Slim Jims (and other pork products) cured with an ingredient of dynamite?

Are the nitrites (nitrates?) used to make cured pork the same ones used in explosives?

[MineralMan]

17. Yah, but they don't explode on their own.

No telling what cause the explosion. A gas leak is a definite possibility, and probably the most likely. The ammonia used as a refrigerant makes for a toxic nastiness.

As for Slim Jims, I haven't eaten one of those in decades.

[Captain Hilts]

19. I bought a 4 ft. long Slim Jim in Ravine, Penn. a few years back. Stunk up the car.

My friends actually ate it!

[yellowcanine]

20. Dave Barry is going to have a field day with this one.