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Accident: 200758464 - Employees Become Ill Inside Building

Accident: 200758464 -- Report ID: 0522500 -- Event Date: 06/18/2007
InspectionOpen DateSICEstablishment Name
31047976106/18/20074899Verizon
At 9:45 a.m. on June 18, 2007, employees of Verizon Wireless working on the fourth floor in the Financial Services call center started feeling ill and noticed the odor of diesel exhaust. Approximately 125 employees were working on this floor, and there was an additional 30 new hire employees in the area. The Washington Township Fire Department was called and the generators outside were shut down. At approximately 10:45 a.m., the fire department tested the air and found nothing. By 11:30 a.m., there were around 12 employees on the first floor lobby for fresh air. One of the 12 employees became ill, and the fire department was called again. Around 12:00 p.m., the air quality was tested a second time and nothing harmful was detected. By 12:30 p.m., EMS escorted nearly 25 employees outside the building to administer assistance. At approximately 1:15 p.m., the entire fourth floor was evacuated after consulting with the fire department. At around 2:15 p.m., all personnel were sent home, and the Dublin call center was closed. An independent third-party vendor was brought in to conduct additional testing for carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, airborne particulates, volatile organic compounds, and hydrocarbons. The preliminary findings revealed air contaminant levels were well within recommended guidelines. Employees were believed to have become sick from carbon monoxide from the back-up generators that were being tested that morning. The monthly generator testing started around 7:00 a.m. The building had eight diesel generators outside on the ground level. The air intake for the fourth floor was located on the roof which was five stories high, and due to weather conditions that day, it was believed that carbon monoxide and diesel exhaust entered the air intake and was distributed throughout the fourth floor. Many employees were treated by the fire department. 17 employees were taken to nearby hospitals where they were treated and released. No employees were admitted overnight.
Keywords: inhalation, exhaust fumes, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide
Employee # Inspection Age Sex Degree Nature Occupation
1 310479761 Occupation not reported

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