ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 16, 1995 TAG: 9512170006
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on December 19, 1995.
A story Saturday incorrectly said that a natural gas leak can cause
carbon monoxide poisoning. A simple natural gas leak will not produce
carbon monoxide. But a faulty natural-gas appliance, such as a furnace
that's out of adjustment, can produce carbon monoxide.
A three-minute gas leak Friday morning that was thought to be under control sent 22 employees of the Crest Uniform Co. in Salem to the hospital that afternoon.
About 11:30 a.m, a forklift operator broke a natural gas line leading to a ceiling heater in the warehouse of the uniform distribution center on Cleveland Avenue, said Tom Spangler, head of plant maintenance.
The gas leaked for 3 1/2 minutes until it was cut off by a Roanoke Gas Co. worker who was called to the scene, Spangler said.
Plant workers opened loading-dock doors and turned on an exhaust fan to ventilate the warehouse.
Robert Young, senior executive vice president of Crest Uniform, said the Roanoke Gas worker advised that the situation was under control.
"He made no indication to us that there was a concern to evacuate the building," Young said.
About two hours later, employees began experiencing symptoms, including nausea and dizziness.
The company then evacuated all of the approximately 300 employees from the building, Spangler said.
Some employees were taken to Lewis-Gale Hospital by ambulance.
When the numbers became too many, a Salem school bus was called and took another 15 employees to the hospital.
Another employee was taken to Lewis-Gale about 4 p.m.
None of the employees was in serious condition on arrival, said Cami Jones, Lewis-Gale's director of emergency services.
Most were suffering from nausea and dizziness. And a few were experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath, she said.
Jones said natural gas can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if people are exposed to it in a closed area. The key in this situation was that employees were removed from the building, she said.
All 22 employees had been released from Lewis-Gale by Friday night.
Crest Uniform employees not affected by the gas waited outside the plant for about 1 1/2 hours before the building was declared safe.
Operations were back to normal after that, Spangler said.
Roanoke Gas Co. spokesman John Lambert said the gas company was assisting the Salem Fire Department in investigating the incident.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: WAYNE DEEL/Staff Salem fire and rescue members prepareby CNBgas-leak victims to be taken to the hospital by school bus Friday.