EFFINGHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT - NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS - FEBRUARY 2007
Hazardous Material Incident at IDOT
February 9, 2007Chief Joseph C. Holomy - Effingham Fire Department
The Effingham Fire Department was called to the IDOT District 7 facility in Effingham at 400 West Wabash at 13:47 hours for a possible Hazardous Materials incident. Upon arrival, IDOT employees advised fire department personnel an IDOT office employee accidentally spilled approximately 4 ounces of Mercury in one of the first floor offices. The Mercury had been in a container that had fallen off the shelf. Fire Department personnel were further advised that at the time of the accident, five employees were in the immediate area and may have come in contact with Mercury.
The M.A.B.A.S. (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) Division 54 Regional Hazardous Material Team was immediately activated to include Hazardous Materials Technicians from Effingham FD, Wade FPD, Altamont FPD, and St. Elmo FPD along with a Decon Trailer from Farina FPD. In addition, three ambulances from Effingham City/County Ambulance Service were also dispatched. The five employees in the office at the time of the incident were decontaminated on scene including removal of all clothing and transported to St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham as a precautionary measure. An additional five employees just outside the area of the office at the time were also decontaminated and subsequently transported to St. Anthony Hospital. All remaining employees at the facility were evacuated and sent home. All ten employees transported to the hospital were released by 17:00 hours.
Hazardous Materials Technicians entered the office affected and were able to retrieve the product that was in the room. The product was overpacked in containers and transported from the scene by Bodine Cleaning Services out of Decatur. Additional clean up in the office and surrounding area will be completed on Saturday by Bodine.
At no time was there any danger to the general public or IDOT employees but as a precautionary measure, those employees in the area at the time of the accident were transported for medical evaluation. The Fire Department along with the Hazardous Material Team cleared the scene at 17:00 hours.
Tonya Loker, Administrative Manager for IDOT District 7 can be reached at 217-342-8203.