Freon Leak At Costco Puts Employees in Harm’s Way
A Costco in Hazlet, New Jersey recently shut down after it was reported that there was a freon leak inside the store. Freon, which is most commonly used in refrigeration units, can cause severe damage to your cells and lungs. What makes freon so dangerous is the fact that it is a tasteless, usually odorless gas which makes it difficult to detect until the damage has already been done.
Continue reading to learn more about how this freon leak was discovered, what Costco is doing, and what liability companies who experience freon leaks may face in the future.
What Happened
On Wednesday, December 29, 2021, local law enforcement received a report that there was a freon leak at the Hazlet Costco on Route 35 around 6:45 a.m. At the time, contractors were working on the store’s refrigeration system. Initially, the contractors tried to isolate the leak and then tried to ventilate the building naturally. However, around 9:24 am, employees started complaining about headaches and feelings of nausea. At the same time, staff also reported the smell of burning plastic.
When the authorities arrived on the scene, all of the staff had already evacuated the building. Approximately 20 ambulances were on the scenes, as well as the Hazlet Township Police Department, who set up a command post at the Costco location. The local fire department, as well as the New Jersey Natural Gas and Monmouth County HazMat crews, surveyed the building and area to make sure it was safe.
As of publication, four employees were taken to the Bayshore Medical Center, while another was taken to the Riverview Medical Center. Another employee was taken to their local urgent care. The Costco store was not open to customers at the time of the leak and remains closed indefinitely.
Who is Responsible for a Freon Leak?
A freon leak can occur for any number of reasons, not limited to faulty installation, factory defects, and accidental punctures. While an investigation on this particular incident is still underway, manufactures of air conditions and refrigerators – items that routinely use freon – can be held liable in the event that their product is defective. This is because manufacturers have a legal responsibility to design products in a way that avoids future hazards – i.e. a freon leak.
Furthermore, a manufacturer can still be held liable for injuries even if a worker mishandled or misused a product. Stores may also be held liable in the event of a defective product or malfunction that causes injury if they previously knew about the dangerous product but failed to take reasonable steps to correct it. In the case of the Costco freon leak, Costco may hold liability if it is determined that someone was harmed as a result of a product in their store stopped working correctly.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Near You to Discuss Your Freon Leak Case in New Jersey
Were you or a loved one injured as a result of the freon leak at Costco in Hazlet, New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Drazin and Warshaw, P.C. represent clients injured in Hazlet, Freehold Township, Westfield, Red Bank, and throughout Monmouth County, Ocean County, Union County, and Middlesex County, NJ. Call (732) 576-8860 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 3315 Route 35, Hazlet, NJ 07730 as well as offices in Red Bank, Brick, and Westfield.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
