Puyallup, Washington – One Worker Injured in Hazardous Material Incident on Farm

Puyallup, Washington (September 13, 2019) – One worker was treated for ammonia exposure following a hazardous material incident on a farm at the 6100 block of 52nd Avenue East on Friday. According to one report the worker received treatment on the scene by Central Pierce Fire and later released. No other injuries were reported in the incident.

Firefighters were alerted to the incident on Friday morning. During the morning response the farm was evacuated and nearby roads were closed. The hazmat team returned in the afternoon due to an equipment malfunction and to investigate whether anhydrous ammonia had spilled. The farm was not evacuated during the afternoon investigation. The accident caused 52nd Street East to be closed at Pioneer Way East and 66th Avenue during the first response and was also closed in both directions during the second response. The roads reopened soon after the hazmat incident was declared clear. The cause of the incident has not been reported.

About Hazardous Material Incidents

According to Safeopedia.com, hazardous material incidents involve the uncontrolled release of one or more hazardous materials in a location which puts human lives or the environment at risk of damage. Furthermore, the website also defines the term “HAZMAT Incident” as an umbrella term for any incident which involve the release or exposure to biological, chemical and radioactive hazards. Since there is a variety of hazardous materials that can be involved there is no set response to this particular incident. There are three types of hazmat incidents: simple spills, major spills, and emergencies. Simple spills do not spread rapidly and don’t pose an immediate threat to surrounding humans or the environment. Depending on the workplace, these incidents may not require reporting and may be cleaned up by a qualified worker. Major spills and emergencies, on the other hand, are reportable incidents that fulfill one of these conditions: incidents where the hazardous materials spread rapidly, endanger humans or the environment, has caused a person to require medical treatment for either injury or exposure, or involves an individual needing rescue. From this information, it is clear that hazmat incidents can result in lasting injuries and even fatalities. We urge all workplaces that use hazardous materials to run strict safety guidelines. Workplace safety should never be taken for granted in order to prevent damage, not only to human lives, but for the sake of the environment as well.

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