A chemical spill at a Tyson Foods plant in Springdale, Arkansas, injured five people on Tuesday, according to reports.
One person was in critical condition, one in serious condition and two in fair condition after a cleaning agent spilled outside the facility. One person was treated and released.
Capt. Matt Bagley, public information officer with the Springdale Fire Department, said firefighters and first responders were called to the plant at 600 Berry St. around 8:30 a.m. for a chemical spill after workers began complaining of respiratory issues and skin burns.
The spill was contained and a decontamination line was set up to aid victims. Bagley said no contaminants were released in the air, on the ground or in ground water and that the spill was small. Firefighters could not confirm what the substance was that spilled, but said it was not ammonia.
“It’s unclear exactly what happened. I think that will come out in the future, and that’s up to the plant,” Bagley said. “I don’t know what information they’ll be willing to talk about and what they’re not, but I think everything was handled really well.”
Tyson said it is investigating the incident. About 1,200 employees work at the plant, according to a report.
Tyson Foods Inc. is based in Springdale, Arkansas. According to WATTAgNet.com, it is the largest broiler producer in the U.S., with 36 slaughter plants and more than 2 million head slaughtered in 2018.
