Moultrie Observer

June 27, 2008

Dozens sickened by carbon monoxide

Staff Reports

MOULTRIE — Colquitt Regional Medical Center treated Friday a number of workers who were exposed to excessive carbon monoxide at a produce packing shed, officials said.

A group of workers were brought in Friday afternoon with elevated levels of carbon monoxide, said Gary Boley, marketing director at the hospital. They were taken to the hospital by bus.

“About 25 folks ended up being brought into the ER to be checked out and (see) if they needed treatment for this carbon monoxide,” Boley said.

Colquitt County Sheriff’s Investigator Hal Suber said that first responders and Emergency Medical Service personnel were dispatched at 2:41 p.m. Friday to Little Rock Produce on Hopewell Church Road.

“A forklift was leaking, which caused them to get sick is what 911 told me,” he said.

No deputy was dispatched to the scene because it was a medical call, Suber said.