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Employee says she was fired after Splash Island chemicals spill

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TBO.com

Published: September 11, 2009

Updated: 09/11/2009 08:43 pm

The general manager of the Splash Island Water Park at Cypress Gardens said she was fired Friday for calling 911 about a spill of pool chemicals.

Wendy Weiss said she and four other employees were taken to Winter Haven Hospital after detecting the spill of about 100 gallons of sodium hypochlorite, similar to strong bleach, in a concrete enclosed storage and pumping area. The employees suffered burning throats and lungs, nausea and headaches, according to Polk County safety officials.

The employees were released from the hospital after about four hours and returned to work. Weiss said when they got back, Justin Harden, the general manager of Cypress Gardens, told them they did not follow protocol and should have used hoses to dilute the chemicals.

Weiss said after she found the spill, she called 911 and Harden. Another employee, the park's on-staff emergency management technician, called the park safety manager, who is also a Polk County firefighter. He called the county hazardous materials unit, Weiss said.

"I'm in charge of the water park and when something happens at work, I'm supposed to do something," Weiss said.

Weiss said the four other employees were allowed to leave but that Harden held her back and asked for her keys and phone because she had been fired.

Harden could not be reached for comment.

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