Workers overcome by carbon monoxide at construction site

4 taken to hospital, 1 more treated at the scene

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Four construction workers were taken to the hospital Thursday morning from a carbon monixide case.

It started when two people were overcome by carbon monoxide at a construction site for new apartments right next to I 75 off of North Concorde Road.

Fire officials say the workers had heaters set up both inside and outside the building.

They say several of them malfunctioned flooding the building with the gas.

When firefighters arrived, two workers were passed out.

They also found out that others continued to work, not realizing what had happened to the others.

In all, four of them were taken to the hospital and a fifth worker treated at the scene.

Firefighters recorded CO levels of 540 parts per million.

The safe amount is 0.

40 workers were evacuated from the construction site.

Fire Chief Phil Hyman says “It could have been much, much worse.”

“We just want to caution the public on using this type of heating devices… if they are not ventilated, a large amount of carbon monoxide will build up in the structure. Whether it’s a home or it’s a business, it needs to be ventilated or folks will be negatively impacted.”