Chlorine gas investigation awaits cleanup, lab tests
Four workers still hospitalized after exposure to harmful gas
Three Pacific Steel and Recycling workers remain hospitalized in critical condition following an accidental release of chlorine gas at the company’s east Spokane recycling facility Wednesday morning.
Mike Tracy, a spokesman for the company, said Thursday that a fourth worker is still in the hospital.
Workers at the company’s facility at 1114 N. Ralph St. became sick after a cylinder containing chlorine gas was crushed, releasing the gas into the air just before 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Details about the source of the cylinder remained scarce Thursday as a cleanup crew worked inside the Pacific Steel building. Tracy said Clean Harbors, the company handling cleanup, expected to have test results today confirming which chemical was released, but he added the time frame could easily change.
The situation is “moment-to-moment and day-to-day until we get the all-clear from the company,” he said.
Once Pacific Steel has lab tests confirming that the chemical released was chlorine gas and the company can re-enter the building, Tracy said, it will work to find the vendor who sold the recycling company the cylinder.
“There’s too many unknowns” to proceed with an investigation now, he said.
Chlorine is a common industrial chemical used to decontaminate drinking water, manufacture plastics and make cleaning products. Elemental chlorine is a gas at room temperature, though it’s often stored as a pressurized liquid.
Jeff Millhollin, president and CEO of Pacific Steel and Recycling, said Wednesday the company rarely handles chlorine cylinders, and those cylinders are usually completely empty when they arrive.
Chlorine gas is corrosive and can become hydrochloric acid when inhaled, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Due to its toxicity, it’s been used as a weapon in several wars, including an Islamic State attack in Duluiyah, Iraq, last fall.
In Washington, any facility storing more than 100 pounds of chlorine is required to report it to the Department of Ecology. In 2014, only 29 facilities reported storing chlorine gas statewide, according to Andrew Wineke, a Department of Ecology spokesman.
Chlorine gas releases have been rare in Washington, with just 17 since 2003. None of those were in Spokane County.
City workers at a nearby street department building were evacuated Wednesday after the cloud of gas blew west and entered the building. Several reported headaches and other minor symptoms, but none were hospitalized. That building was back open Thursday.
Deaconess Hospital reported Thursday that it had one patient from the chlorine gas incident who remains a patient. That person is in critical condition.
A Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center spokeswoman said she could not update conditions on the four patients from the incident who were admitted or say if any were released.