Prince Rupert, B.C., terminal evacuated due to a 'hazardous materials situation': union

Prince Rupert, B.C., terminal evacuated due to a 'hazardous materials situation': union

Union says 1 person taken to hospital for treatment, but has since been released

The DP World Fairview Terminal in Prince Rupert, B.C., was evacuated due to a “hazardous materials situation” Wednesday, according to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU).

The union said one person was taken t o hospital for treatment, but has since been released.

A second person was assessed after they reported feeling ill, but did require further care.

The ILWU said the substance was ammonium bifluoride in a crystalized form, and it started giving off a chemical odour around 3 a.m. PT.

In industry, the toxic and corrosive compound is widely used as a glass etching agent.

"Early in the morning, workers noticed the smell. They were taken off work for a while then put back out to work," said Keith Cociani, president of ILWU local 505 in Prince Rupert.

"It appears that the substance was in a container. Probably got wet. Somehow, we don't know how, they're still investigating," he added.

When it mixes with moisture or gets wet, it can produce hydrogen fluoride gas, said Cociani.

The workers raised concerns with the superintendents on site, and a union representative was brought in early Wednesday morning to investigate, he added.

"Personally, I think the site should have been shut down a little bit quicker, but that's what we will evaluate," he said.

He added that "the issue was brought up during the 1 a.m. shift, but the workers were not sent home until about 10 [a.m.]. So they started another shift."

The site was shut down, with no shift planned for Wednesday evening.

"We're not letting anybody go back to work until after a hazmat unit has cleared the site to be safe," Cociani said.

The incident is fairly localized, he added.

No risk to public or environment

The Port of Prince Rupert told CBC News the cause of the disruption is being investigated, and no risk to the public or environment has been identified.

Two containers have been isolated as a precaution, the statement added.

"We're going to make sure that we evaluate this afterwards and that proper procedures for dealing with problems like this are followed," said Cociani.

In a statement, DP World confirmed operations at the Fairview terminal in Prince Rupert were temporarily disrupted Wednesday after an odour was detected from two containers.

As a precaution, the terminal was evacuated and shut down on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday evening, the company confirmed the hazmat team assessed and cleared the areas of concern.

Operations are expected to resume as normal by 8 a.m PT Thursday, pending any final considerations, it added.

"The safety of our employees, contractors, and the surrounding community remains our highest priority," it said.