Inspection Detail

Inspection: 301519732 - Toe River Health District

Inspection Information - Office: Nc Department Of Labor - Charlotte

Investigation Summary

On November 22, 1996, Employees #1 through #9 were overcome by a chemical vapor. Initially, Employee #1 experienced coughing, loss of breath, and gagging. Several minutes later, Employees #2 through #9 became symptomatic, with headaches, coughing, and a gagging feeling. All 35 workers in the building were sent to the Yancey Community Medical Center and, of the those experiencing symptoms, one was sent to Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville. All were treated and released the same day. The Hazardous Materials Team from the Asheville Fire Department responded to the site. No definite cause of the odor was determined, but sewer gas was suspected. An open sewer pipe was located in front of the building's air intake units.

Keywords: RESPIRATORY, VAPOR, HEADACHE, INHALATION, GAS, CHEMICAL VAPOR, OVEREXPOSURE, SEWAGE, CHEMICAL, COUGH