The Whitfield Drive Walmart Supercenter was temporarily closed Friday after four employees reported possible Freon leak exposure.
At about 11:34 a.m., Columbus firefighters were called to the Walmart Supercenter, 734 Whitfield Drive, for a report of four employees who said they had been exposed to a Freon gas leak in the area of the storeroom refrigerator/freezer, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman.
This area was not accessible to the public. Columbus firefighters and emergency medical technicians from Columbus Regional Heath assessed the four employees who were later transported to the hospital as a precaution. Two were transported via ambulance and two were transported by privately-owned vehicles. According to paramedics at the scene, the four employees did not present with any apparent life-threatening symptoms.
Columbus firefighters inspected the area where the leak was reported and found no evidence of an active Freon leak. Firefighters also spoke with store maintenance staff who reviewed the alarm activity for the refrigerant systems. A review of the system alarms and monitoring devices indicated that the system was operating normally.
Columbus Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Sieverding spoke with store management who advised the fire department incident command that the store would be closed until a full inspection of the store’s refrigerant system could take place. No timeline was provided to firefighters on the reopening of the store.
Agencies assisting at the scene include the Columbus Police Department, Columbus Regional Health EMS and the Bartholomew County Operations 911 Dispatch Center.
