Archive

Site of Workplace Disaster May Be Torn Down

July 7, 2000

The burned out shell of a chicken-processing plant in Hamlet,\r\nN.C., where 25 workers died nine years ago may finally be torn down.

EHS Today Staff

The burned out shell of a chicken-processing plant in Hamlet, N.C., where 25 workers died nine years ago in one of the nation''s worst workplace disasters may finally be torn down.

President Clinton is expected to sign a bill passed last week by Congress that includes $50,000 to destroy what is left of the Imperial Foods plant.

The 1991 fire focused attention on working conditions for industrial employees.

Fleeing workers found some exterior doors locked, and some died while trying to escape.

A steel door stamped with the blackened footprints of employees who tried to kick their way to safety hangs in the Smithsonian Institution.

Imperial went bankrupt following the disaster, and the property has remained under court control.

Proposals for the site include a memorial park or a new industrial plant.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.