ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Dozens of Orange County workers fell ill Thursday on the job. Hazardous paint fumes chased them out of their workplace shortly after they arrived.
A call center called Faneuil on Southland Boulevard near the Florida Mall, had to be evacuated. A few people were taken to the hospital.
Hazmat crews cleared the building and allowed employees who stuck around to go back to work, around 11:00am.
Employees told WFTV the problem all started on the second floor as people showed up for work.
It was a chaotic scene as fire crews evacuated the building. Paramedics had sick employees down on the ground, complaining of breathing problems and respiratory pain.
A total of 45 employees received treatment. Emergency crews loaded two employees into ambulances and rushed them to local hospitals to be treated.
The employees work for a call center owned by Faneuil, a company that does customer service for different companies, including Sunpass.
The company told WFTV the property management company painted overnight and it was supposed to be non-toxic paint.
"The fumes took over some of the people, made you dizzy, and throw up. Just affected a lot of people," evacuated employee Yolanda Webb said.
Orange County Fire Rescue said the chemical levels were normal when they tested the building, but it's possible the heat and humidity could have caused a bad reaction with the chemicals for some people.
The people who were taken to the hospital are expected to be okay. Other employees have gone home, many are back at work.
WFTV
