More than a dozen people were taken to Indianapolis hospitals Tuesday after they were sickened by fumes from gas-fueled power-washing equipment at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Fairgrounds spokesman Andy Klotz said 15 workers were power-washing floors at Exposition Hall when two contract workers complained of feeling lightheaded. The 13 contract employees were taken to hospitals for treatment. Information on their conditions wasn't immediately available. Two fairgrounds employees weren't affected.
Klotz said the 74,000-square-foot building's doors were open, but there was little wind to provide ventilation.
"Normally (opening the doors) creates enough airflow to keep that air moving and keep it from being stagnant," Klotz told The Indianapolis Star. "But that didn't happen today."
An official with the contractor, OnDemand, didn't answer his phone when The Associated Press called seeking comment.
Klotz said fair officials are examining what happened and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. He said this was the first time they've had problems with using the procedure to clean floors in the building.
Officials might examine whether to use power washers at all, use fewer of them, set up portable fans or find alternative cleaning methods, he said.
Klotz said the building will be tested for carbon monoxide before people are allowed back in.
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