This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Two people were flown to the hospital Friday morning after inhaling chlorine gas in the power plant at Kennecott Utah Copper's mine.
Kennecott spokeswoman Jana Kettering said the leak occurred about 10 a.m. when a contract delivery driver was dropping off some sodium hypochlorite in a supply tank near the power plant. The chemical is used to purify water at the plant.
The driver was unaware there was some hydrocholoric acid, used to clean equipment, inside the tank, Kettering said. The two chemicals reacted to form chlorine gas and employees nearby complained of burning in their chest and began coughing.
Both men were released from the hospital by 4 p.m., Kettering said.
The plant was evacuated after the incident, but work resumed after about an hour and a half, Kettering said.
Chlorine gas causes vomiting and heavy coughing in low concentrations. At higher concentrations it can damage lungs and be fatal.