By By TED STRONG
Staff Writer
A phosphoric-acid leak at PCS Phosphate’s 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 Phosphate’s 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 wasn’t 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 weren’t affected.
“We’re 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.