Unknown powder causes scare at credit card firm
George B. Sanchez
Monterey County Herald
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Salinas, California (US):
A mysterious white powder sent 20 HSBC employees to the hospital Friday and officials won't know for days what they may have inhaled.Fire officials said as many as five employees were exposed to a gray powder in the mailroom after a mechanical letter opener released the substance from an HSBC return envelope around 9 a.m. Friday.
Officials said employees immediately experienced sinus and respiratory reactions.More than 20 people were taken to local hospitals after county health officials, a hazardous materials team and the Salinas Fire Department arrived at HSBC.
Nineteen people were sent to Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital and six to Natividad Medical Center, said Michelle Keith, senior administrative director at Salinas Valley.HSBC is one of the largest private employers in Salinas and has 77 facilities throughout the world. The 76,000-square-foot plant, at 1441 Schilling Place, issues more than 23 million credit cards annually.After the discovery, plant officials shut down the building's ventilation system and did not let employees in or out until investigators deemed the facility safe. Otherwise, business continued.
Mar 18, 2006
George B. Sanchez
Monterey County Herald
__________________
Salinas, California (US):
A mysterious white powder sent 20 HSBC employees to the hospital Friday and officials won't know for days what they may have inhaled.Fire officials said as many as five employees were exposed to a gray powder in the mailroom after a mechanical letter opener released the substance from an HSBC return envelope around 9 a.m. Friday.
Officials said employees immediately experienced sinus and respiratory reactions.More than 20 people were taken to local hospitals after county health officials, a hazardous materials team and the Salinas Fire Department arrived at HSBC.
Nineteen people were sent to Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital and six to Natividad Medical Center, said Michelle Keith, senior administrative director at Salinas Valley.HSBC is one of the largest private employers in Salinas and has 77 facilities throughout the world. The 76,000-square-foot plant, at 1441 Schilling Place, issues more than 23 million credit cards annually.After the discovery, plant officials shut down the building's ventilation system and did not let employees in or out until investigators deemed the facility safe. Otherwise, business continued.
Mar 18, 2006
