Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “is looking into” the “matter” in American Samoa, where Carl’s Jr restaurant closed this past Saturday after employees were possibly affected by unidentified fumes.

This is according to the U.S Labor Department (USDOL) Regional spokesman, Jose Carnevali, responding to Samoa News queries and as some local residents raised a question as to whether the federal government — including OSHA, which is a division of USDOL — will be or is conducting a probe into this incident.

Samoa News reported on Tuesday this week that eight Carl’s Jr employees were possibly affected by unidentified fumes at its restaurant last Saturday and were taken to the hospital, with six later cleared to go home while two remained at the hospital for observation.

Carl’s Jr’s manager Phil Love told Samoa News “there was no evidence of any gas leak that would have caused the incident and no customers were affected.” He confirmed that the employees affected have been given leave time by doctors through Dec. 1, 2022.

“Please note, the federal OSHA is looking into this matter,” Carnevali, who is based in San Francisco, said via email responding to Samoa News specific questions. “At this time we cannot provide further information or details.”

Among the specific questions to USDOL, is whether OSHA has received information on this incident and if they are investigating and the length of such a probe — if one has been initiated.

As the story was also posted on Samoa News online on Tuesday, both local and off-island readers were concerned with “unidentified fumes” — as cited in the story — and also concerned with Love’s statement of no evidence of any gas leak.

Samoa News readers queried as to whether USDOL/ OSHA is taking a lead in conducting a probe, especially when there were reports of a video that circulated online — also reported by Samoa News — that showed Carl’s Jr employees on the floor gasping for breath, as well as other staff who seemed to have fainted.

Information on OSHA’s work and responsibility is detailed online at (www.osha.gov).