Emporia police and EMS were called to the plant after 11 a.m. Four individuals were affected by the leak. One individual was taken by ambulance to Newman Regional Health.
Worth Sparkman, a Tyson Foods, Inc. spokesman, said the company is investigating the ammonia leak, which involved outside contractors working on a refrigeration system at the Emporia plant. He said he was able to confirm that two of the outside contractors were hospitalized.
"Fire and EMS units were dispatched to Tyson Foods, 2101 W. Sixth Ave. for a haz-mat ammonia leak exposure," the Emporia Fire Department reported in a news release. "Upon arrival, [emergency crews] found plant officials decontaminating four people who were in the direct area of the ammonia leak and were brought outside.
"Of the four patients, only one was transported to the hospital for inhalation injuries. The other patients refused any treatment or transport. Plant officials reported the leak was shut off and there [were] no further exposure issues."
