Agricultural commodity company Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. is facing a lawsuit alleging that the Illinois-based company intentionally failed to test and maintain safety systems on its grain equipment for years, contributing to a 2023 explosion that left a worker in a coma.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit, filed in Macon County Circuit Court, claims that ADM’s negligence in maintaining fire and explosion suppression systems at its Decatur facility resulted in serious harm to employee Antonio McElrath.
The explosion occurred in April 2023 at ADM’s West Plant in Decatur, when McElrath was instructed by a supervisor to shut down a grain “leg” tube that had begun smoking. The lawsuit alleges that safety systems designed to prevent such incidents were not functional at the time.
Attorney Timothy Shay, representing McElrath, told WCIA, “This lawsuit alleges willful conduct on behalf of ADM and its failure to protect its employees.” Shay emphasized that ADM has a responsibility to ensure the safety of both its employees and independent contractors working at its facilities. The lawsuit cites violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, asserting that ADM failed to protect workers from combustible dust explosion hazards.
McElrath’s injury is part of a series of safety incidents at ADM’s sprawling Decatur complex, which serves as the company’s North American headquarters.
According to the lawsuit, dust explosions occurred in 2018 and 2019, followed by fires in 2019, and another smoldering event earlier this year at the West Plant. Additionally, a separate explosion at the East Plant in September 2023 injured several workers, and an industrial fire broke out this week at ADM’s sorbitol production department, as confirmed by the Decatur Fire Department.
ADM spokesperson Jackie Anderson addressed the allegations in an email statement, asserting the company’s commitment to safety. Retuers reported that she also noted that ADM has recently hired process safety engineers and implemented additional safety measures to prevent future incidents.
The lawsuit claims that ADM had been cited by OSHA for four workplace violations connected to the explosion that injured McElrath, resulting in fines totaling nearly $325,000.
Shay argued that ADM’s failure to maintain proper safety protocols amounted to a willful disregard for employee safety.
“They have the responsibility to make a safe workplace for the employees of ADM, the independent contractors that also work there, and anybody else that may find themselves in these conditions where they’re exposed to these dangerous conditions that could result in serious injury,” Shay told Nexstar Media.
