Anaheim : 4 Hurt, 150 Evacuated Following Chlorine Leak
A chlorine leak caused by an employee’s error at Continental Chemical Co. on Wednesday sent four people to the hospital and prompted the evacuation of about 150 employees from the company and surrounding industries, a fire official said.
An undetermined amount of chlorine leaked shortly after 7 a.m. while being transferred to a one-ton, eight-foot-tall container from another, larger container, Anaheim Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Bowman said. Continental Chemical Co., at 1651 E. Babbit St., transfers chlorine from railroad cars into a series of smaller containers for industrial use, Bowman said.
The leak occurred when an employee forgot to tighten one of the fittings leading from a drum to the next container, Bowman said.
By the time employees realized there was a leak, the vapors from the chlorine already had affected two employees. Those employees and two firefighters who later inhaled the fumes, were taken to Ball Taft Hospital, where they were treated and released, hospital spokeswoman Carol Johnson said.
Chlorine can be fatal when inhaled, Bowman said. The chlorine attacks the lungs and respiratory system.
The 150 employees from Continental Chemical and about five surrounding buildings returned to work about 9 a.m., Bowman said.
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