An investigation is underway at Hemet Global Medical Center in Riverside County after multiple hospital workers reported falling ill due to a mysterious odor. While hospital officials insist the facility is safe, some employees strongly disagree.
Last week, staff at the hospital, which is owned by KPC Health, began complaining about a strong, unexplained odor. The situation escalated to the point where the hospital had to evacuate its ICU on the fifth floor. The Hemet Fire Department responded to calls about the odor on three separate occasions but found no hazardous materials or detectable gases during their tests.
Jessica Meiner, an ER technician and union shop steward, has been vocal about the issue, questioning hospital leadership about worker safety. She described experiencing persistent dizziness, headaches, and brain fog, saying even her migraine medication has not been effective. Meiner emphasized that no employee should have to suffer these symptoms just from coming to work.
The Service Employees International Union, which represents approximately 500 workers at KPC Health, is now pushing for more extensive testing to identify the source of the odor. A union representative confirmed that they have reached out to OSHA in Riverside, and an official investigation will be conducted.
So far, authorities have not determined what is causing the mysterious odor or how many workers have reported symptoms. However, some employees claim they received a memo warning about a sewer gas leak in the ICU, which could cause nausea and dizziness. Hospital officials did not confirm the memo when asked but did acknowledge that some parts of the building were temporarily closed for plumbing repairs. In a statement, they assured that “Hemet Global Medical Center remains safe and fully operational.”
Concerns over safety at the hospital are not new. According to the California Department of Public Health database, Hemet Global Medical Center had more than five times the state average of complaints last year, including issues related to staffing shortages and the need for improved training and standards.
