Leak forces 30 workers to leave building briefly

8/5/2003

An ammonia leak yesterday at the PepsiAmericas plant in South Toledo forced the temporary evacuation of one of the buildings.

At least two employees were sent to the hospital as a precaution but returned to work by the end of their shift, said Mary Viola, a Chicago-based spokesman for PepsiAmericas. Though up to 300 employees work throughout the complex, only about 30 employees were evacuated because the delivery drivers had left the plant for the day and the leak involved only one building, she said.

Fire crews were called to the plant, 3245 Hill Ave., about 9:40 a.m. The leak already had been stopped and plant inspectors were addressing the problem, Toledo fire Capt. Brent Wettle said.

Another four employees from a nearby tortilla factory, La Perla, also complained of being sick, but refused medical treatment. Fire crews checked their work site but found no sign of the ammonia, he said.