Falls Twp. Hazmat Incident Sends Four To Hospital

Emergency crews at the scene of the hazmat call Monday afternoon. Credit: Submitted

Four workers were transported to the hospital Monday afternoon after a chemical reaction at a Falls Township plant led to a hazmat response and evacuations.

Firefighters were called to Univar Solutions, a chemical and chemical ingredient maker, in the 200 block of Dean Sievers Place around 12:30 p.m. for a report of a chemical reaction.

Per Fire Marshal Rich Dippolito, workers were moving ammonium persulfate from ripped bags into waste drums when a reaction occurred, releasing a yellow cloud into the air.

Ammonium persulfate is often used as a cleaner in products and is found in hair coloring products, food-grade bleach, grout, lab testing products, batteries, circuit board printers, and polymers.

According to MSDS sheets for the product, it is harmful if swallowed and can cause skin and eye irritation, dizziness, chest pains, and respiratory system impacts.

The chemical reaction prompted the evacuation of Univar Solutions and several nearby businesses due to concerns over exposure.

No serious injuries were reported, and all workers were accounted for.

Dippolito stated that four Univar Solutions employees did not report serious impacts from the reaction but were transported to nearby hospitals by medics for decontamination and examination.

Hazmat technicians from two regional teams responded to investigate the reaction.

The chemical reaction subsided, and hazmat crews were able to secure the scene.

The scene was then turned over to Univar Solutions several hours later.

The company will be responsible for the incident cleanup, Dippolito said.

Emergency crews were released from the scene by 3 p.m.

In addition to the fire marshal’s office, the Bucks County Hazmat Team, Edgely Fire Company, Falls Township Fire Company, Fairless Hills Fire Department, Levittown Fire Company No. 1, Morrisville Fire Company, and Trenton Fire Department Hazmat Team responded. The Bucks County Rescue Squad, Capital Health Emergency Medical Services, Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad, Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad, and Yardley-Makefield Emergency Unit sent ambulances.

Falls Township police and fire police directed traffic around scene by the Keystone Trade Center during the incident.

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