36 Employees Become Sick While At Work

Tulsa's Metris building has been sealed up by the health department. <br><br>Friday 36 people had to be taken to the hospital after something in the building made them sick. <br><br>Hundreds of Metris

Saturday, March 25th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa's Metris building has been sealed up by the health department.

Friday 36 people had to be taken to the hospital after something in the building made them sick.

Hundreds of Metris employees waited patiently outside while Tulsa's hazardous material team searched their offices to see what was making 5 of their coworkers sick.

"They haven't told us anything they told us to chill to sit here," says Kathy Petersen, Metris employee.

That was about 1 p.m. but by 2:30 the party was over and they were all back in the building where they market Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

"Basically, we had reports that there was a gas or a smell we sent our haz mat team in with meters checked all three floors and didn't find anything any indication of anything flammable," says Tulsa Fire Department spokesperson.

But about 45 minutes later the routine started over again this time 31 more people were taken to the hospital.

"We let people back in after the first problem that we had some people complained about being dizzy caused us to call the fire department back out and evacuated the building and as we assessed the situation we felt pretty uncomfortable," says Metris spokesperson Doug McCoy.

Everyone else went home, leaving Metris managers and Tulsa Firefighters puzzled as to what could be making everyone sick.

"The building has been sealed and they've called in an air quality specialist and this is all a direct orders by the Tulsa County Health Department," says Tulsa Fire Department Acting Public Information Officer Frank Mason.

No one seems to know exactly just what is causing the nausea and dizziness, but Metris officials said that they believe it has something to do with the building's boiler ignition. Earlier in the day, sprinklers just above the boiler went off, but firefighters say they don't know if the two are related.

Metris says it hopes to have employees back in business on Monday. But workers say they enjoyed the afternoon break.

"A different side of Metris I guess," says Petersen.

A side Metris hopes it won't show again. All of the 36 employees have been treated and released from the hospital.