PCS leak sends four to hospital|Phosphoric acid injures industrial contractors
Published 4:12 am Saturday, June 27, 2009
By By TED STRONG
Staff Writer
A phosphoric-acid leak at PCS Phosphates facility in Aurora sent four workers to the hospital Friday morning, said company spokeswoman Michelle Vaught.
The workers were all contractors from Austin Industrial and were cleaning at PCS Phosphates phosphoric-acid plant when a line failed at about 7:15 a.m. Friday, exposing them to the acid.
Beaufort County Medical Center treated and released two of the workers.
The other two workers were taken to CarolinaEast Health System in Craven County. Their condition wasnt available Friday evening
John Pack, Beaufort County emergency services coordinator, confirmed that the company notified the county as required.
Vaught said the plant has written procedures for this sort of emergency, but that none had occurred recently.
She said plant operations werent affected.
Were currently investigating to understand the root cause, she said.
The company produces different grades of phosphoric acid at Aurora.
The chemical is used for a variety of purposes, including in soft drinks.