Spill of Chemical at Brewery Hospitalizes 1
About 25 gallons of a toxic chemical used for cleaning industrial machinery spilled at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Van Nuys Monday morning, causing one man to be hospitalized.
Robert Aria, 50, was pumping sodium hydroxide, a corrosive chemical, from one tank to another when the piping burst, spraying a small amount of the chemical on him and spilling more to the ground, according to a company spokeswoman.
The spokeswoman would not specify the injuries to Aria, who was in serious but stable condition Monday night at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.
No other injuries were reported and no evacuation was ordered by the fire department.
The spokeswoman for the brewery said Aria worked with an independent trucking company and was not an Anheuser-Busch employee.
