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A carbon monoxide leak from a rented LPG-powered forklift sent four Velda Farms dairy employees to the local hospital with complaints of headaches. The workers received treatment, but none was admitted.

The rental company is having the equipment tested.

The US Occupational Safety & Health Administration is reviewing the matter, according to Michael Wald, a US Department of Labor deputy regional director in Atlanta, Georgia. "The OSHA Area Office in Tampa (Florida) is fact-gathering to determine if there is a need to begin a formal investigation," he says.

The forklift incident occurred in a storage and packaging area that is separate from where Velda Farms processes milk, says Fred Stern, spokesman for the dairy's parent firm, National Dairy Holdings LP of Dallas, Texas. "Usually, we use electric (forklifts) but there were a couple of propanes rented. Fortunately, there was no serious injury."

The Winter Haven fire department and Polk County hazardous materials team responded to calls for assistance following the 15 September leak. Members of the fire department ventilated the building for four hours, according to Lt. Shannon Duncan.