12:37 p.m. One patient remains in critical condition after Tuesday’s industrial spill at the Tyson Foods Berry Street plant.
Beth Wright, vice president for marketing and business development at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale, reported today that one of the patients has been released. Two other patients remain in the hospital, listed in good condition, she said.
One patient was released from the hospital Tuesday.
SPRINGDALE -- One person is in critical condition after an industrial accident Tuesday at Tyson Foods' Berry Street plant, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Beth Wright, vice president for marketing and business development at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale, said in a statement Tuesday afternoon five people were brought to the hospital from the plant after they were exposed to a cleaning agent.
"All five patients were admitted to the hospital," the statement said. "One is in critical condition, another in serious, and three are in fair condition."
She declined to give further details about the injuries or the chemical spilled. She added Northwest was the only hospital involved.
Capt. Matt Bagley, public information officer for the Fire Department, said an industrial cleaning supply was spilled. He said all of the product was easily and quickly contained. No ammonia, which is used at the plant, was released into the atmosphere or the groundwater.
The accident happened in the northwest part of the plant, but Bagley didn't know what part of the chicken production process takes place there.
Derek Burleson, Tyson spokesman, said the spill involved a cleaning material and happened outside the plant. The company is investigating the incident, he said. About 1,200 people work at the plant, where chickens are killed, the company said.
"We're thankful for the quick response of Springdale emergency services who helped us address the situation," Burleson said.
Hans Driessnack, CEO of Northwest-Springdale, said the hospital staff trains and works with the city's first-responders and employers to be prepared for situations like today's accident.
A spill at the same plant in June 2011 sent more than 150 workers to area hospitals for chlorine-gas exposure. The accident was caused by a reaction from mixing chemicals and was attributed to human error, a Tyson executive said at the time.
An ammonia leak at Tyson's Chick-N-Quick plant in Rogers in December 2014 injured 23 employees. The same Rogers plant experienced an ammonia leak in September 2013.
NW News on 06/19/2019