KANSAS CITY, KAN. — Nearly 30 meat processing workers were hospitalized after a chemical leak on April 11 at Kansas City, Kan.-based Premier Custom Foods, according to a local media report.

First responders arrived on the scene around 1:45 p.m. By that time, about 26 employees had been exposed to carbon monoxide.

Reports indicate that none of the employees’ injuries were serious.

The incident was suspected to be caused by a leak in containers that store carbon monoxide, which is used in packaging to preserve fresh meat products.

“The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration responded to the plant at approximately 6:45 p.m., Tuesday, April 11, and opened an inspection with Premium Custom Foods located at 756 Pawnee in Kansas City, Kan.,” Rhonda Burke, deputy director of public affairs for DOL, told MEAT+POULTRY.

Within six months, OSHA must complete its investigation and issue any citations and penalties if violations of workplace safety and health procedures are found.

The US Department of Agriculture will determine if Premier Custom Foods can reopen and if any food needs to be discarded, according to KSHB 41’s report.

Premier Custom Foods did not provide a comment at the time of publication.

Premier Custom Foods’ facility is approximately 42,000 square feet. It specializes in the production of chicken breasts, tenders, specialty cuts, marinated breasts and ready-to-cook appetizers, entrees and side dishes.