Twenty-four people were hospitalized Wednesday in New Jersey after a can of bear spray was mistakenly set off in an Amazon warehouse.
More than 50 employees reported feeling sick, and at least 30 were treated on the scene, town officials told NBC10 Philadelphia.
The incident was reported at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday after the bear repellent fell off a shelf on the third floor of the facility. The spray was discharged, and the affected wing of the building was evacuated. Robbinsville town spokesman John Nalbone said that half a dozen ambulances were sent to the scene.
Robert Wood Johnson Hospital confirmed that it is treating nine patients, and one is in critical condition. The affected employees were spread out across five different hospitals. They reported difficulty breathing and experiencing a burning sensation in their eyes and throats.
Amazon confirmed in a statement that a “damaged aerosol can” was the cause of the mishap.
“The safety of our employees is our top priority, and as such, all employees in that area have been relocated to safe place and employees experiencing symptoms are being treated onsite,” the company said.
The Amazon facility in New Jersey houses over 3,000 employees and carries a range of brands and sizes of bear repellent sprays.
The ingredients in bear repellent are similar to those found in cans of pepper spray.
