Employee dies after Iowa chemical spill

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100115/NEWS01/100119727

Published Friday January 15, 2010

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials at a Mason City hospital say an employ working near a chemical spill has died but that it’s unknown if the man’s death and the spill are connected.

Emergency crews were called to Mercy Medical Center’s west campus laundry facility Thursday evening on a report of a person not breathing.

The hospital on Friday says employees contained the chemical, sodium hydroxide, to one room in the building. The hospital says during the situation, employee David Weaver had a “medical emergency” and died.

The hospital did not immediately release Weaver’s age or hometown.

Hospital officials say they don’t know why Weaver died and if the chemical was a factor or if he had underlying medical issues.

Sodium hydroxide is commonly used as chemical drain cleaner or laundry additive.

Four firefighters and four other hospital workers were also taken to the hospital after complaining of possible problems, but all are OK.