Twenty-four employees at an Amazon warehouse in New Jersey were taken to hospital after a robot accidentally punctured a can of bear repellant. The 255g can containing concentrated capsaicin, a compound in chilli peppers, was punctured by an automated machine after it fell off a shelf, according to local media. The incident happened on Wednesday at a warehouse in Robbinsville, New Jersey, on the outskirts of Trenton. Amazon said: "All of the impacted employees have been or are expected to be released from hospital within the next 24 hours. The safety of our employees is always our top priority and a full investigation is already under way."

An Amazon robot tore open a can of bear repellant at the company's New Jersey warehouse on Wednesday, hospitalizing 24 workers. One employee is in critical condition, according to ABC News, while 30 others were treated on the scene. The 1.3-million-square-foot Amazon fulfilment center in the town of Robbinsville, New Jersey, employs more than 3,000 people. A preliminary investigation determined that the bear repellant, which is like pepper spray for aggressive or charging bears, fell off a shelf. But a spokesperson for Robbinsville Township further clarified that an automated machine punctured the 9-ounce can, releasing its toxic fumes.