Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 6/22/09
                                                                         

North Carolina regulators are investigating 10 companies in the probe of a natural gas explosion last week at ConAgra Foods' Garner, N.C., food plant that killed three people and injured dozens more.

The state Department of Labor said 10 outside companies had employees at the Garner plant on the day of the explosion.

According to local TV station WRAL, the department's Division of Occupational Safety and Health has opened inspections on the following firms:

• ConAgra
• Coast Personnel Services Inc.
• Staffing Solutions Southeast Inc., which does business as Resource MFG
• Aerotek
• Innovative Talent Services Inc.
• Accountants International Inc.
• U.S. Security Associates Inc.
• Southern Industrial Constructors Inc.
• Energy System Analysts and
• Freedom Electric.

WRAL quoted Department of Labor spokesman Neal O'Briant as saying three inspections were opened for ConAgra: one each for health, safety and process safety management.

Investigators have determined that a natural gas leak caused the explosion. They are looking at the possibility that gas from a line leading to a new water heater was vented into a closed space inside the plant as the water heater was being installed, WRAL reported.

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