IBM worker exposed to cyanide in Yorktown

• Hazmat reported at IBM in Yorktown
• Worker exposed to cyanide and taken to area hospital for observation
• Research facility on Kitchawan Road

YORKTOWN – An employee of the IBM research facility on Kitchawan Road was taken to a local hospital Wednesday after being exposed to cyanide, officials said.

Yorktown Heights firefighters responded to the Thomas J. Watson Research Center at 1101 Kitchawan Lake around 11:40 a.m. on a reported hazardous-materials incident.

Police Lt. Kevin Soravilla initially said two workers were exposed to the highly toxic chemical and taken for observation. A spokesman at IBM later said the incident affected only one individual.

"A technician ... reported smelling an unidentified chemical while performing a routine semiconductor process step," said Chris Andrews in a company statement. "The technician was working in full protective gear, following all IBM safety procedures and all engineering safety controls were in place."

Andrews said the technician later returned to work after being released from the hospital.

Soravilla referred further questions on the chemical incident to firefighters, who could not be reached for comment.

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