Chemical blamed for deadly reaction in Mass. restaurant common in local eateries

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - One person is dead and 10 more hospitalized after chemical exposure at a restaurant in Massachusetts.

The same chemical blamed for the deadly reaction is common in local restaurants. While the emergency crews in Haz-Mat suits were at a Buffalo Wild Wings Thursday night in Massachusetts, they could easily have been in the Tri-State.

"What we believe happened is a worker at Buffalo Wild Wings used a cleaning agent on the floor. The cleaning agent is called Super 8," explained Chief Michael Patterson with the Burlington Fire Department in Massachusetts.

The manufacturer of Super 8 referred us to its website, which states the product is a sanitizer for low-temperature warewashing and food contact-surface sanitizing. It's designed for use in mechanical or hand dishwashing operations.

“It is a common product used in food service establishments,” said Tucker Stone with food safety at the Hamilton County Health Department.

He says restaurants all over the area use Super 8, and, used properly, it's not a problem. He says restaurants are required to get management trained and certified for proper use of cleaning supplies and told how to test for proper amounts. The bartender at Arnold's in downtown Cincinnati is required to test his dishwashing water every four hours and the owner says she takes the requirements very seriously.

“Everything is in its own container; everything has a set amount of distribution, warning signs, labels all over our kitchen,” said Ronda Breed. “We train our guys when they come in.”

And you don’t need to work in a restaurant to get yourself into trouble. Common household products like bleach and window cleaner, which can contain ammonia, if mixed together can produce chlorine gas. Just how many restaurant workers are aware of dangerous chemical reactions is hard to pin down. And the health department admits violations related to food storage are more common than those related to having certified managers training cleaning crews.

“The person-in-charge violation is not a common violation that our health department is citing,” said Stone.

He says it's likely the worker in Massachusetts mixed Super 8 with another chemical to cause a toxic cloud, highlighting the need for education.

The Centers for Disease Control reports chlorine accidents occur in the United States at a rate of at least once every two to three days. One-third of those cause injuries.

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