Gas, Acid Leak Forces Evacuation of Company
A hydrogen sulfide gas and sulfuric acid leak caused by overcharged vehicle batteries led to the evacuation of a health products company Monday and sent seven people to the hospital, a Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman said.
The incident at Leiner Health Products Inc. in the 900 block of East 233rd Street in Carson occurred at 12:33 a.m., said fire spokesman Ed Loney. The vitamin manufacturer uses the batteries to power forklifts used inside the building.
Twenty people were evacuated from the building and examined by paramedics at the scene. Loney said seven of them were transported to Harbor/UCLA Medical Center in Torrance after complaining of nausea.
Loney said a hazardous materials team ventilated the building and stopped the leak. He said employees returned to work about 2 a.m.
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