Chicago, IL- About a dozen employees of a meatpacking business north of Bridgeport were hospitalized Monday morning after firefighters responded to a report of a leak of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
Firefighters were called about 11:15 a.m. to Battaglia Distributing, 2545 S. Ashland Ave., said Larry Merritt, a department spokesman. The leak, believed to be caused by human error, came from machinery that is involved in the company’s meat processing, Merritt said.
An estimated 25 workers were at the company at the time of the leak, and nearly half were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, Merritt said.
Officials at Battaglia Distributing declined to comment when reached by phone Monday afternoon.
The business is in an industrial area just off of the Chicago River near the Bridgeport and Heart of Chicago neighborhoods. None of the surrounding businesses were evacuated because of the leak.
Firefighters reported that the scene was secured by 12:30 p.m.