173 hospitalized in chlorine gas leak at Tyson chicken plant

[Ichingcarpenter]

SPRINGDALE — A chemical accident sent 173 Tyson workers to five hospitals Monday morning when they were overcome by chlorine gas fumes at the Berry Street chicken processing facility.

Patients were taken to hospitals by ambulance and Ozark Regional Transit buses. They were decontaminated at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale by stripping out of their clothes at the emergency room entrance and donning hospital gowns. Although hazmat materials were available and ready, no one was washed down, hospital officials said.

Twelve employees were admitted to local hospitals, and about 130 affected workers were retained for observation and treatment for exposure Monday evening. The rest were treated and released.

The most serious injuries include two workers admitted to the intensive care unit at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale and one in intensive care at Northwest’s hospital in Bentonville.


http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/jun/27/chlorine-leak-tyson-plant-hospitalizes-several/?latest

[badtoworse]

1. Chlorine is really nasty if you inhale, but I'm not sure short term skin contact is dangerous

The gas should disipate once you leave the affected area. I would say decontamination was not necessary, but I'd like to hear an expert opinion.