Workers Hospitalized In HazMat Incident At Bio-Detek In Pawtucket

Correction: An earlier headline highlighted the declaration of a "mass casualty incident,' a term used to designate multiple patients on scene. We changed the headline out of concern that the term may appear to be misleading. There were no fatalities at the facility.

PAWTUCKET, RI — Emergency rescue crews from multiple communities responded to 525 Narragansett Park Drive late Thursday afternoon for reports of up to 30 patients exposed to a chemical release.

A HazMat response was requested and ambulances were instructed to stage at Langdon and Beverage Hill Avenues. The call came in around 5 p.m. A "mass casualty incident" was declared.

At around 5:30 p.m. scanner communication indicated that around 10 people had been transported to Rhode Island Hospital with symptoms stemming from an "unknown chemical irritant" (Updates: 15 rescues reported by 6 p.m. The Department of Environmental Management has been notified. 6:38 p.m.: Information is conveyed to hospitals that a top level of 18 parts per million of an organic compound was detected inside the facility. 6:40 p.m.: Incident command clears most rescues from the scene. An EMS is assigned to a HAZMAT team.)

525 Narragansett Park Drive is the address of Bio-Detek Inc. Bio-Detek manufactures medical devices.

8:30 p.m.: Zoll Medical issued the following statement about the incident at its Bio-Detek facility:

"Around 4:30 p.m. today, several ZOLL employees in a facility at 525 Narragansett AVeneu, Pawtucket, reported feeling unwell. As a precuation, the buidling was evacuated and approximately 20 employees were taken by ambulance to area hospitals. None showed symptoms that were life-threatening.

"The Pawtucket fire department has inspected the building and has told ZOLL the cause of the incident is still unknown. HazMat teams are now inspecting the building. All remaining employees were sent home around 6:30 p.m.

"The safety and health of our employees is our top priority," said Elijah White, president of ZOLL Resuscitation. "This building will remain closed to employees until we determine it is safe to return. Our thoughts are with our colleagues affected by this situation as we work with authorities to determine the cause."

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