Commerce : Leaking Drum of Pesticide Sends 8 People to Hospital
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A leaking drum of pesticide at a Commerce trucking yard sent eight people to local hospitals, but all were treated and released Wednesday in good condition, officials said.
The leak occurred at about 11 p.m. Tuesday at the Overnite Transportation Co. terminal in the 2700 block of Vail Avenue, Los Angeles County Fire Capt. John Tucker said.
The eight workers were exposed to the pesticide when one of several five-gallon drums on a cement loading dock began leaking, apparently because of an “accidental failure of the container,” Tucker said.
About 40 employees were evacuated from the terminal until a county hazardous materials team could place the leaking container into a sealed drum. The container was to be taken to a hazardous waste dump or to a treatment facility, Tucker said.
The eight employees were taken to three local hospitals, treated and released, hospital officials said.
The pesticide was properly packaged and labeled and no citations were expected to be issued, Tucker said.
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