Smithfield Packing Plant in Tar Heel and nearby homes were evacuated after a chemical reaction Monday morning. (Source: WECT)Smithfield Packing Plant, nearby homes evacuated after chemical reaction
By WECT staff Published: August 29, 2016, 10:57 am
TAR HEEL, N.C. (WECT) – Smithfield Packing Plant in Tar Heel and nearby homes were evacuated after a chemical reaction Monday morning.
According to Bladen County Emergency Management Director Bradley Kinlaw, seven employees were taken to the hospital with minor injuries after a chemical reaction occurred between sodium hypochlorite and acid during a cleaning process at approximately 3:30 a.m. That reaction formed chlorine gas, a potentially deadly situation if workers overexposure to it.
Several nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.
Emergency crews ventilated the building, and employees were allowed back into the plant at about 8:15 a.m.
More than 15 units have responded to the scene.
Sodium hypochlorite
is a chemical compound with the formula NaClO and it is composed of a
sodium cation (Na+) and a hypochlorite anion (ClO−).
It may also be thought of as the sodium salt of hypochlorous acid. When dissolved in water it is commonly known as bleach.
Sodium hypochlorite solution is normally a light yellow liquid with a characteristic bleach odor. Sodium hypochlorite is unstable and can release chlorine gas if mixed with acid.
If
you mixed with hydrochloric acid (HCl) you would get Chlorine gas released and would make
you start coughing. The gas if it got in your lungs would hydrate and create
HCl and other acids scarring your lungs. Overexposure would cause death. If the sodium hypochlorite at the plant mixed with HCL, then these workers inhaled chlorine gas. Nasty, nasty stuff.