WOODRIDGE – What is believed to have been a small chemical leak at an egg processing plant in Woodridge sent 19 of 95 employees working there early Sunday afternoon to the hospital.
At 12:12 p.m., the Sullivan County 911 Center received a report of two employees at the Newburgh Egg processing facility having a possible allergic reaction.
Mobile Medic EMS arrived and requested the Woodridge Fire Department for a possible chemical leak.
Woodridge firefighters and police evacuated all 95 people working there.
Orange County Hazard Materials Response Team responded as well as the Rolling V Bus Transportation Services.
All employees were evaluated for any sickness and 19 were transported to Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills in Harris, all for non-life-threating injuries. They all complained of dizziness and headache with a few complaining of shortness of breath.
The cause of the exposures and the chemical involved are under investigation, but it is believed there was a small leak in one of the supply lines involved in the processing and preserving of the eggs.
Part of the plant was temporarily closed for inspection and repair. The unaffected sections remain open.
Several fire departments and police agencies responded to the incident scene.
