24 Employees Hospitalised After Ammonia Leak At Festive Chicken Factory In Olifantsfontein
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Twenty-four employees were hospitalised after an ammonia leak at the Festive Chicken processing facility in Olifantsfontein, Ekurhuleni, on Wednesday afternoon, 11 November 2026.
The incident occurred at the company’s premises at 17 Industria Road, where emergency services were called after employees were exposed to ammonia fumes and began experiencing respiratory difficulties.
The City of Ekurhuleni’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) dispatched firefighters from the Olifantsfontein Fire Station after receiving an emergency report through its Life-Threatening Call Centre.
On arrival, firefighters found several employees suffering from respiratory distress and immediately requested additional medical assistance.
Paramedics attended to the affected workers at the scene before 24 employees were transported to nearby hospitals for further medical treatment. The patients were transported by ER24 and Gauteng Provincial Government emergency medical services.
Preliminary information indicates that the ammonia leak occurred at approximately 16:23 after a pressure-release valve reportedly malfunctioned.
The malfunction resulted in ammonia fumes escaping into the facility, exposing employees working at the premises.
Routine maintenance work had reportedly been taking place at the factory since approximately 06:00 on Wednesday, several hours before the incident was reported.
As a precaution, all personnel were evacuated from the plant while emergency responders dealt with the situation and conducted safety assessments.
The facility’s engineering manager reportedly confirmed that testing conducted following the leak recorded a maximum ammonia concentration of 222 parts per million (ppm).
Further testing was carried out later that evening to establish whether the chemical remained present in the affected areas.
At approximately 19:45, subsequent tests confirmed that ammonia concentrations had dropped to zero.
Following the emergency response, evacuation and testing process, employees were given permission to return to work after the facility was cleared for re-entry.
What Is Ammonia And Why Is Exposure Dangerous?
Ammonia is a colourless gas with a strong, pungent smell. It is widely used in industrial applications, including refrigeration systems, as well as in the production of fertilisers and other products.
Exposure to ammonia can cause irritation and injury to the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory system. Inhaling elevated concentrations can result in coughing, breathing difficulties and damage to the lungs. Severe exposure can cause serious respiratory complications.
The severity of the effects depends on the concentration of ammonia, the duration of exposure and the amount inhaled.
Festive Chicken is part of Astral Foods, one of South Africa’s major poultry producers. Its Olifantsfontein operation includes breeding, hatching and chicken processing facilities.
The incident resulted in 24 employees requiring hospital treatment after being exposed to ammonia fumes during the afternoon’s operations.
Further details regarding the employees’ medical conditions and any investigation into the reported valve malfunction have not been confirmed.
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