Workers fall ill after gas leak in Bensenville

Guadalupe Quinonez and Mary Ruiz had a headache for about three days. In addition, Quinonez also felt slightly dizzy and lightheaded.

Turns out many of their co-workers at Packaging Partners Inc. in Bensenville felt the same symptoms. Some even experienced vomiting.

But nobody suspected that the cause of their distress was carbon monoxide, an odorless and colorless gas that had been emitting from the company's gas-powered fork lifts.

On Wednesday, Bensenville Fire Protection District officials found "extremely high levels" of carbon monoxide at the plant, Fire Chief Mike Spain said.

Around 2:30 p.m., Bensenville received a tip that an unusual number of plant workers were sick.

Eventually, about 155 of the company's employees were evacuated. Ten were transported to Elmhurst Hospital and Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village. None of the injuries were life threatening, officials said.

Close to 20 police and fire emergency vehicles from throughout the suburbs, as well as those from Homeland Security, assisted Bensenville with evacuation, investigation and other duties.

"The company has been extremely cooperative," Spain said. "Everything is fine."

The company is expected to reopen today, officials said.

Company management has agreed to change to electric-operated forklifts. In case they keep some gas-powered ones, they have will have them serviced and document carbon monoxide emissions.

Packaging Partners, 951 Thorndale Ave., makes paper and cardboard products.