OSC Haworth responded to the incident where an unknown substance resulted in the hospitalization of several people at the ABC Recycling facility located at 1245 Shawmut Avenue in New Bedford, MA. The OSC integrated into the command structure, providing support in the development of air monitoring plans and tactics to address incident objectives. While the incident is summarized in three short paragraphs below, the information presented is the result of many level A entries by local responders and the first civil support team. The Level A entries were conducted between noon on Monday afternoon and 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, with assistance from law enforcement that provided information from employees interviewed at the hospital. While interim objectives were met, ultimately, it was never determined what was released.
A 30 percent solution of sodium chlorite is the only hazardous substance in use at the facility, and the amount present is limited to two 55-gallon drums. It is used to treat waste that arrives to avoid the accumulation of hydrogen sulfide that would otherwise naturally occur. Thus the investigation initially focused on a release of chlorine or chlorine dioxide that might be associated with the sodium chlorite. Monitoring did not support this. Drums were inspected and found not to be leaking. Also, the level of liquid inside was gauged, and it matched the level suggested would be present by facility personnel.
The idea that workers were overcome by a build up of hydrogen sulfide because of the failure to the treatment system was dismissed through air monitoring in the building, and the prior experience of responders with such incidents, who agreed that if present in concentrations sufficient to cause the symptoms observed, the victims would smell so badly of it, everyone would notice. This was not the case.
After getting access to a video tape of the operation at the facility, the reaction of an employee recorded very near a load of trash that had just been off-loaded turned the attention of the investigation to that pile of trash. After monitoring and observing the perimeter of the pile, heavy equipment available at the facility was used to pick it apart while monitoring for any release, and visually inspecting for any type of chemical or chemical containers that might be the source of the prior release that required workers to be hospitalized. Nothing was found. The emergency response was determined to be closed.
DEP will return in daylight in a non-emergency response capacity to assure that the company takes appropriate steps to assure treatment equipment in the building is functioning properly before returning to business as usual. OSHA and the Fire Department are expected to return to assist in this effort. No assistance from EPA’s emergency responders is requested by either DEP for the local Fire Department.
No further updates are anticipated for this response. Case Closed.
