WINNIPEG – Part of the province’s largest hospital was evacuated Thursday afternoon due to a chemical spill.
It happened at Health Sciences Centre at about 2 p.m.
A large quantity of Formalin spilled in the Thorlakson Building, also known as the Medical Services Building, in the 800 block of Sherbrook Street. Hundreds of staff and a small number of patients had to be moved to other parts of HSC.
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Formalin is an embalming fluid which is clear but has a strong, irritating smell. It releases a vapour that is toxic and flammable. Clean up was well under way late in the day Thursday and everything was expected to be back to normal Friday.
In the meantime, the evacuation could delay lab tests, WRHA officials said. That led to the cancellation of five elective surgeries, and could cause delays at HSC’s emergency department.
There were no injuries in the incident, which officials say was caused by a construction worker accidentally breaking a pipe that carried the chemical.
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