Homes Evacuated, 7 Workers Treated After Chemical Interaction at North Carolina Plant

Authorities in North Carolina say seven workers were treated at a hospital for minor injuries and several nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution after cleaning chemicals interacted at a meat packing plant in the community of Tar Heel south of Fayetteville.

Bladen County Emergency Services spokesman Bradley Kinlaw tells local media outlets that the workers were cleaning about 3:30 a.m. Monday when the chemicals interacted at the Smithfield Packing Plant.

Kinlaw says acid interacted with sodium hypochlorite which is used as a disinfectant.

He says the chemicals were contained inside the building and the building is being ventilated before workers are allowed back on the job.