Stewartville, MN (KROC AM News) -  Some workers at a Stewartville manufacturing facility were taken to St. Marys Hospital Wednesday after being exposed to a chemical.

The incident was reported at the GEOTEK site around 1:00 PM after employees noticed a strong chemical odor in part of the building.

The section of the building was evacuated until it was ventilated. The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office says there was no danger to the nearby area.

The employees who were affected by the chemical complained of eye and throat irritation. Stewartville Fire Chief Vance Swisher says five of the workers were checked out at St Marys.

Swisher says the problem was traced to an issue in the manufacturing process involving the mixing of chemicals.  He says the section of the building that was evacuated reopened about four hours later.

The Rochester Fire Dept and a regional HAZMAT team assisted in the situation.

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