JUNE 20, 2015
FORBES, MN
Two United Taconite (a division of Cliffs Natural Resources
Company) employees were evacuated and checked by medical personnel Saturday
morning as a precautionary measure after an exhaust fan in a lab there failed,
according to a spokesperson for the company. The address is 8470 Townline Road, Forbes, MN
55738
On Sunday, Pat Persico, director of global communications
for Cliffs, said both employees had been released with a clean bill of health,
and one was back to work already.
Virginia Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Erik Jonassen had said
Saturday that two people left the site and were taken by personal vehicle to a
local hospital; one had burns to his face while the other person's injuries
were unknown, that he believed their injuries were non-life threatening.
However, Persico said Sunday that neither employee had been injured at all.
The two employees were analyzing iron ore and working with a
chemical compound called stannous chloride, a vapor that can cause harm if
inhaled as well as irritate and burn the skin or eyes. Persico said the employees
were evacuated before any chemical was inhaled.
The Virginia Fire Department got the call at 10:49 a.m. on
Saturday. When crews arrived, the lab and associated areas of the building were
evacuated and sealed. Firefighters worked with the Minnesota State Duty Officer
as well as Minnesota Homeland Security on identifying and determining the
proper personnel protective equipment.
Once the area was cleared, Jonassen said
they started ventilating the atmosphere and identified the chemical compound as
stannous chloride and determined how to mitigate it. After that, they
ventilated the lab and cleared the scene by 2:15 p.m.
As of Sunday, Persico said the lab has been cleared and is
functioning normally.
McDavitt Fire Department assisted on the scene.
Company Overview
United Taconite LLC owns and operates iron ore mining and
palletizing assets. The company produces magnetite pellets. United Taconite LLC
was formerly known as EVTAC Mining Co. and changed its name to United Taconite
LLC in September 2004. The company was founded in 1965 and is based in Eveleth,
Minnesota. United Taconite LLC operates as a subsidiary of Cliffs Natural
Resources Inc.
8470 Townline Road, Forbes, MN 55738
Phone: (218) 744-7800