Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-2011-0128-3166, September 2012. Evaluation of Health Effects of a Chlorine Gas Release in a Poultry Processing Plant - Arkansas.

摘要

NIOSH received a request for technical assistance from OSHA to evaluate employee health effects after a chlorine gas release in a poultry processing plant in Arkansas. On the morning of June 27, 2011, human error resulted in the mixing of an acidic solution of Fresh FX, an antimicrobial used in poultry processing, with a sodium hypochlorite solution. This mixing of chemicals caused a release of chlorine gas into the plant. About 600 employees who were at work at the time of the release were evacuated. We made three site visits to evaluate the employees who were at work on the morning of the release. Five hundred forty-five employees participated in part or all of our evaluation. Of those who participated in our evaluation, 195 reported seeking medical care, 152 reported being hospitalized, and the company reported that 5 were admitted to intensive care units immediately after the incident.