A WAGGA hazmat team was left stumped yesterday about the source of noxious fumes which left four employees of Kurrajong Waratah Recyclers in hospital. Initially believed to be a chemical spill, the incident brought police, a hazmat team, firefighters and paramedics to the facility around 1pm, after the employees were overcome by fumes. The building was evacuated while the fire brigade and paramedics were called.Fire and rescue duty commander for the Wagga area Duncan White said an unknown chemical had escaped from a steel can while it was being crushed and baled. "It became apparent a can had erupted with some sort of chemical escaping which left five workers overcome. Four were taken to hospital, with one who refused transport," he said. After isolating the area a Hazmat team set about trying to identify the chemical. "We have gas detectors, but we couldn't get any readings in the open area. If there was a little breeze circulating it could have carried the gas away."We broke apart the bale in questions, but it proved inconclusive," Mr White said. Satisfied there was no residual chemical in the area, the site was declared safe with the cause of the employee's illness undetermined. Kurrajong Waratah Recyclers operations manager Tim Macgillycuddy said employees were able to return to work yesterday afternoon. "Our procedures went well and everyone was evacuated. Some staff have gone back to work, but the majority have knocked off."He said the incident was the first of its kind since the facility opened and he was glad no one was serious injured. The four males taken to hospital were 20, 46, 47 and 49-years-old and were in stable condition at Wagga Base Hospital. Three were expected to be released last night. Workcover were alerted to the incident and an inspector was sent out. A spokeswoman said Workcover would be working closly with the recycling centre and Hazmat team to look into the circumstances surrounding the incident.