‘Relieved’: Employees released from hospital after white powder goes airborne at Caldwell County facility

LENOIR, N.C. (WBTV) - All employees sent to the emergency room on Monday were released after a white, powdery substance went airborne on Monday at a Caldwell County facility.

The situation unfolded on Monday, Nov. 9, during normal operations at Prime Recycling on Watson Street in Lenoir.

Fire officials said workers had trouble breathing after being exposed to the airborne white, powdery substance while opening boxes at the facility. Lina Lemus, HR department manager at Prime Recycling’s Lenoir facility, said that after employees saw and reported the substance, they stopped operations, evacuated the building, and called 911.

Public Safety officials examined 22 people at the facility, and 14 were taken to UNC Caldwell for further evaluation.

“The health and safety of our employees comes first,” Lemus said. “We are relieved to report that every employee who was evaluated has been cleared and released.”

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The Lenoir Fire Department and a hazmat team led the investigation and collected samples of the unidentified substance for off-site testing.

“We are cooperating fully with authorities leading the investigation, and we are reviewing how we receive and handle materials. We will share more information as it becomes available,” Lemus said.

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Lemus said the facility reopened Tuesday after hazmat officials deemed it safe to resume operations. Monday’s second and third shifts had been suspended as a precaution.