Tuesday, March 17, 2015

CHEMICAL ACCIDENTS AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ON THE RISE: CHEMICAL SPILL FORCES EVACUATION AT NDSU BUILDING





MARCH 13, 2015

 North Dakota State University was evacuated Friday morning after a chemical spill.

At about 8:45 a.m., a researcher and student accidentally broke a glass bottle containing ethylenediamine, a chemical that can be harmful to the skin and lungs, said Craig Nelson, battalion chief with the Fargo Fire Department.

Everyone made it out of the Research I building safely, and no one was injured, the department’s release said.

Firefighters responded about 20 minutes after the spill with 18 people in seven vehicles. They assisted university police in evacuating the building and removing the spilled chemical.

At first, “we didn't know what specifically it was,” because the researchers left when they saw it start to vaporize, Nelson said. “They shut the door and got out real fast, which is what they're supposed to do.”

Through air monitoring, the fire department was able to narrow down the possibilities, he said.

After evacuation, they turned on the building’s ventilation to send vapors outside, where they could dissipate. They then sent a two people wearing Level B hazmat suits and self-contained breathing apparatuses into the lab, where a floor-dry material was used to absorb the liquid chemical.

The process took about two hours, including time for the air to return to safe levels, Nelson said.

The building has since returned to normal operations.