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Buffalo Wild Wings manager dies after chemical incident

A Buffalo Wild Wings manager died and 10 workers and patrons were sickened after being exposed to a cleaning agent at a Massachusetts location Thursday evening, the authorities said.

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By
Derrick Bryson Taylor
and
Neil Vigdor, New York Times

A Buffalo Wild Wings manager died and 10 workers and patrons were sickened after being exposed to a cleaning agent at a Massachusetts location Thursday evening, the authorities said.

The fire department in Burlington, about 12 miles northwest of Boston, responded to calls at the restaurant and found a man outside being treated by paramedics, Assistant Fire Chief Michael Patterson said at a news conference Thursday.

“The gentleman that passed away was an employee of Buffalo Wild Wings who attempted to squeegee the product out of the building when he was overcome,” the chief said.

The episode occurred after an employee prepared to clean the kitchen floor and was exposed to a chemical known as Super 8, Patterson said. That person — who authorities said was not the manager who died — exited the restaurant to get fresh air.

Super 8 is a low-temperature sodium hypochlorite solution registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. It is used as a sanitizer in the food processing and food service industry, according to Auto-Chlor System, a company that provides cleaning products and services to commercial kitchens and laundry and housekeeping operations.

State workers who specialize in dealing with hazardous materials were called to the scene, the chief said. An investigation into the incident is continuing.

“We are shocked and saddened to learn of this tragic accident at our franchise-owned sports bar and are working closely with our franchisee and the authorities while they conduct an investigation,” a spokeswoman for Buffalo Wild Wings said in a statement Friday.

The man who died, Ryan Baldera, 32, was the restaurant’s manager, said Paul Sagarino Jr., the town administrator of Burlington. A cause of death was not available Friday.

The other 10 people who were sickened and sought treatment at a hospital Thursday night were released by Friday morning, the authorities said. They included two restaurant patrons.

Ron Robert, a sports radio host who knew Baldera from working in the restaurant business, said Baldera had recently become a father.

“One of the nicest guys you could ever meet,” Robert said. “What a horrible situation.”

Robert said it would have been in Baldera’s nature to stay behind and make sure the restaurant had been evacuated. “Ryan did the right thing, except he didn’t get out,” he said.

Further details about the restaurant’s evacuation were not immediately available. The restaurant chain did not respond to questions about whether it planned to review its cleaning products and procedures.

Baldera grew up in Methuen, Massachusetts, about 20 miles north of Burlington and was the captain of the track team at Methuen High School, Roger Fuller, who was the coach at the time, said Friday.

He said he persuaded Baldera to run the first leg of the 800-meter relay, in addition to Baldera’s specialty, which was the hurdles. Baldera also played football.

“He was a great captain,” Fuller said, adding, “He was no doubt a leader from day one.”

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