Toronto, September 27: Up to 23 people are being taken to hospital in St. Catharines following a hazardous workplace incident on Tuesday, Niagara Health confirms.
St. Catharines Fire Chief, Dave Upper, said a contractor was working and accidentally hit a valve, which released five litres of hydrochloric acid.
Upper says the acid turned to vapour and three people were nearby. They managed to close the valve, but they were exposed to the fumes, he said.
Officials on the scene said about 20 other people were exposed, and decontamination showers were used. Most of them were taken to the hospital by bus.
Upper said the exposure to the acid was more minor, and the other 20 people were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
“The chemical typically provides burns to respiratory and skin if you are exposed heavily,” he said. “We don’t believe they had that heavy saturation.”
The health organization advises residents to visit the following emergency department and urgent care centres should they require healthcare options:
- Niagara Falls Site Emergency Department
- Welland Site Emergency Department
- Fort Erie Urgent Care Centre
- Port Colborne Urgent Care Centre
