North Royalton, OH – A carbon monoxide leak at Seneca Tape and Label Friday sent 13 people to the hospital with symptoms of dizziness and nausea, fire officials said.
Elevated carbon monoxide levels were detected in the building, according to North Royalton Fire Chief Robert Chegan.
The exposure limit for carbon monoxide is 50 parts per million of air over an eight hour span, according to OSHA. Readings of 300 parts per million of air were detected at the North Royalton facility.
Chegan said that number was probably higher earlier in the day, since the building was opened up by the time officials got there.
North Royalton police first received a report about the leak around 10:40 a.m.
Chegan said the leak was a result of a malfunction in the building’s heating system.
Fire officials evacuated the building and turned off the gas. The building is now safe for the remaining employees, Chegan said.
Columbia Gas of Ohio is at the building working to determine the cause of the leak.
Officers and rescue squads from Strongsville, Brunswick, Broadview Heights, Brecksville, Parma Heights and Middleburg Heights were called in to assist.
The workers are expected to make a full recovery.