California Country club worker
overcome by cleaning fumes containing phosphoric acid
An Indian Wells
Country Club employee was transported to Eisenhower Medical Center after being
overcome by hazardous fumes while trying to clean an ice machine.
The Riverside County
Environmental Health Hazardous Materials Branch responded to the Friday
incident and found no hazardous conditions based on monitoring equipment
readings. Officials still used fans to ventilate the room.
According to county
officials, the employee, in response to a recent health inspection, was
cleaning the ice machine using Nu-Calgon liquid cleaner that contains
Phosphoric Acid and is known to cause burns to the eyes, skin and mucous
membranes.
It also can cause
respiratory tract infection, coughing, headache, difficulty breathing,
congestion, tightness of chest and hemorrhage.
According to a
report released Tuesday by the Riverside County Department of Environmental
Health, the employee was overcome by the fumes when the cleaner was opened.
Another employee was
monitored on scene but refused treatment.