Jackson County (WQOW) - A business believes it knows what caused several workers to be overcome by carbon monoxide.
It happened Thursday morning at Chippewa Bi Products near Alma Center in Jackson County. 13 employees were taken to the Black River Memorial Hospital. Nine were treated and released. The other four were transferred to different facilities. The hospital says none of them has a life threatening condition. Chippewa Bi Products is a rendering facility. The company says there was a mechanical breakdown in a forklift that caused the carbon monoxide to be released.
"It can be very quick, and without detection equipment, you probably won't even know that you're in an area where there's a build up of carbon monoxide, because it's a colorless, odorless gas," says John Ross, Emergency Management Coordinator.
Chippewa Bi Products says it has a CO monitor nearby and it did go off. Business was suspended Thursday as technicians were brought in by the company to investigate. A company representative says the problem has been corrected and they're back in business.
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Jackson County (WQOW) - The Black River Memorial Hospital says no one brought in from a business on Thursday morning has a life-threatening condition.
Ten patients were sent to the hospital from Chippewa Bi Products near Alma Center because of possible carbon monoxide poisoning. Chippewa Bi Products is a rendering facility.
A hospital spokesperson says four of the patients were transferred. One was flown to another facility while three were taken by ambulance. The rest are being treated in Black River Falls and as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, no one had been released.
A spokesperson for Chippewa Bi Products says all of the patients were conscious when emergency crews arrived. The business employs 60, but there were only 14 people in the building this morning when it happened. Business has been suspended as the company has brought in technicians to determine the source of the problem. It's possible the problem was caused by propane-powered forklifts.
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Jackson County (Press Release) - On Thursday, at approximately 9:50 a.m. the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Emergency Communications Center received a call requesting EMS at Chippewa By-Products near Alma Center.
The caller reported a person had passed out and the nature of the problem was not known to the caller. Units from Alma Center Fire Department along with Alma Center 1st Responders and Black River Falls Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene. Upon arrival it was determined that there were several persons who may have been overcome by Carbon Monoxide fumes while in one of the buildings at the facility.
In total 10 patients were transported to Black River Memorial Hospital for treatment. Their conditions are not known at this time. The building where the suspected exposure took place is being ventilated and the cause of the exposure is being investigated but has not been determined at this time. There were propane powered forklifts being operated in the building as well a wood fueled furnace was in service to heat the building. Access to the building is being restricted to allow for ventilation and investigation of the incident.
Emergency crews on scene were assisted by the Merrillan Fire Department and 1st Responders as well as the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.
