Ammonia leak at QAF's warehouse prompts stop work order

AN ammonia leak occurred in QAF Limited's warehouse at Fishery Port Road last Friday.

The leak at the warehouse was shut off by the group and employees were evacuated before the Singapore Civil Defence Force arrived, the Singapore-listed firm disclosed in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.

Four employees were taken to hospital, and all have since been discharged. The warehouse is used by the group's subsidiary, Ben Foods (S) Pte Ltd, for storing food and beverage products.

Ben Foods is a distributor of third-party and proprietary-brand food and beverage products to the food service industry. In addition, some of the storage space is used by customers of the group's subsidiary, NCS Cold Stores (S) Pte Ltd, to store food products.

A stop work order has been issued by the Ministry of Manpower under the Workplace Safety and Health Act to cease carrying on works at the premises until certain measures are taken. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore is also looking into the matter.

Together with its consultant, Johnson Controls, which is advising on the refrigeration system, QAF is in discussion with the relevant authorities with a view to resuming operations.

"The group's insurers have been notified," the group added. "Investigations into these matters are on-going and any adverse impact arising therefrom can only be determined at a later date."