Irregularities found in deadly ammonia leak accident

A probe into a deadly ammonia leak in a Shanghai factory on Saturday has found irregularities, including illegal construction and lack of training, work safety authorities said Wednesday.

A detached pipe cap was blamed as the direct cause of the accident that left 15 people dead and 25 others injured at Shanghai Weng's Cold Storage Industrial Co., Ltd., which is engaged in the import, export, storage, processing and sale of seafood.

Investigators found that the company illegally built the workshop after completing construction of the plant's main body, blocking the fire exits, according to a statement from the Shanghai work safety supervision bureau.

The workshop was designed and constructed by unqualified workers, the statement said.

Additionally, the company never provided training to the workers before starting production.

Sources with the bureau said Shanghai authorities are checking enterprises that use dangerous chemicals and will intensify the management and control of hazardous materials.