Crime & Safety
Man Seriously Injured During UES Chemical Spill, FDNY Says
HAZMAT units and firefighters worked to decontaminate East 61st Street near Fifth Avenue after the chemical spill.
UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A man was seriously injured Tuesday morning following a chemical spill on the Upper East Side, an FDNY spokesman said.
About 25 gallons of sodium hydroxide were spilled near 2 E. 61st St. and Fifth Avenue shortly before 7 a.m., an FDNY spokesman said. Firefighters and HAZMAT units responded to the scene and were still working to decontaminate the area around 9 a.m., the spokesman said.
One man, a civilian, suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries and was rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, an FDNY spokesman said.
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Sodium hydroxide is a corrosive substance that can cause burns, irritation and temporary loss of hair, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The chemical is used in a number of industries such as manufacturing and laundering and is commonly found in commercial drain and metal cleaners, according to the federal agency.
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