Three workers killed at DSM plant in Italy
Accident took place at microbial fermentation plant in Capua
Dutch chemical company DSM has confirmed that three contract workers were killed last weekend (11-12 September) after an accident at its pharmaceutical and food ingredients plant in Capua, southern Italy.
The fatal accident occurred during routine maintenance work in one of the two fermentation units normally used to manufacture food ingredients and enzymes.
DSM has suspended activities at the fermentation facility where the accident happened and has reduced other activity at the site ‘to ensure a safe environment for all employees’.
The accident victims were all employed by the same contractor, which has worked at the DSM Capua site ‘for a very long time’. DSM said the three people involved in the accident were all familiar with the site, its operations and the safety procedures. The root cause of the accident is not yet known.
Italian authorities are carrying out an investigation into the tragedy and DSM says it is providing its full support.
DSM has also sent its own investigation team to the plant.
About 190 people are employed at the microbial fermentation plant in Capua, which is the primary production site of DSM BioSolutions, part of the DSM Pharma cluster.
