St. Catharines auto plant cleared to reopen after acid spill sent more than 20 to hospital
A St. Catharines, Ont., auto plant says it has been cleared to reopen after an acid spill sent up to two dozen of its employees to a Niagara Region hospital on Tuesday.
Approximately five litres of hydrochloric acid spilled at the THK Rhythm Automotive plant after contractors performing maintenance on a paint line system accidentally bumped a valve, creating a vapour cloud.
The plant's human resources manager Alison Griffin says external remediation teams were brought in to contain and remove remaining fluids and perform air sampling to ensure the plant was clear for employees to return.
She says all required investigations, both internally and by the Ministry of Labour, have been completed, with no additional orders issued by the ministry.
First responders have said three people were directly exposed to the hazardous material through inhalation and skin contact, and at least 20 other employees were exposed solely through skin contact with the vapour.
The three employees who were directly exposed were taken to hospital in stable condition by ambulance, while others were taken there as a precaution via a city bus arranged by fire services.
The Niagara Health hospital network said Tuesday night that all those who went to hospital in connection with the acid leak were were assessed and discharged the same day.
The Ministry of Labour did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.