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Haz Mat Spill Onboard A Container Ship
By Jackawa Jackson | June 8, 2009
At 2:52 on the afternoon of June 8th, Long Beach Fire Department units responded to 1281 Pier G Avenue to a report of an acidic material spill onboard a container ship with several employees complaining of burning to their throats. Upon arrival, Engine 6 crew found a loaded container ship docked at Pier G Birth 232 in the Port of Long Beach. They immediately called for additional units to support a potential rescue effort. There were a total of 2 workers who complained of the burning sensation to their throats. The chemical they were exposed to was an acid used in water treatment facilities that had begun leaking from a 275 gallon container. This particular chemical poses an immediate inhalation hazard to all persons in a confined area not equipped with a portable respirator. On scene was a cleanup company contracted by the port in an effort to contain the spill. Members of the Long Beach Fire Department Hazardous Materials team as well as several other Engines and rescues supported the containment effort. Anytime a toxic chemical is released into a confined area, it poses a high degree of hazard to all but the most trained individuals. Members of the Long Beach Fire Department train tirelessly to mitigate situations such as this. The two workers were transported to a local hospital by fire department units. A total of 20 firefighters and 4 ambulance operators responded to this incident due to the high potential for injury to additional workers.
Topics: Incidents | 30 Comments »