[exDemMom]

The fumes were from what was used to clean the nasty 'fridge, "after an employee trying to clean a refrigerator filled with rotting food mixed two chemicals, releasing noxious fumes, authorities said." Probably mixed ammonia and chlorine.

Then it doesn't make sense that the cleaning lady didn't have to go to the hospital, whether she can smell or not. Toxic gases aren't toxic because of their smell; they have a biological effect.

[thecodont]

The AP story (original link) said the cleaning lady wasn't affected because she couldn't smell. The San Francisco Chronicle article (local journalist, not AP) said:

The woman, who was suffering from a sinus problem and couldn't smell the chemical, then used a second solution, Stallard said. The two chemicals interacted in the air, adding to an already pungent odor caused by the rotten food.

So it seems from the SF Chron article that the woman (who couldn't smell the chemicals and very probably could not read any warnings on their respective labels), mixed them because her nose wasn't able to warn her. I think she was probably physically affected too (unless she quickly left the area); I don't trust the accuracy of the AP article.