Irritant in Basement Lab Prompts Hazmat Response to Bellin Hospital

Emergency vehicles are staged outside Bellin Health in Green Bay July 3, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Hazmat teams were called to Bellin Hospital in Green Bay Monday morning after two workers in a basement lab started coughing and having their eyes irritated.

Lt. Shauna Walesh of the Green Bay Metro Fire Department says crews were called to the hospital at 744 Webster Ave. around 10 a.m. They quickly determined that the hospital’s safety mechanisms kept the irritant contained to the lab and no evacuation of the hospital was needed.

“For the people that called it in, it was irritants to the eyes, and it could cause a little bit of coughing. None of those people were treated, taken to the emergency room. Symptoms resolved when they got out of that area,” Walesh said.

The hazardous materials team determined the chemical release came from a hospital equipment drain, according to GBMFD.

“With the air-handling systems that are in place in the hospital, those safety measures keep that room isolated to prevent having to evacuate the whole hospital or a whole floor,” Walesh said.

Webster Avenue was closed from Mason Street to Porlier Street to give hazmat crews room to work. By 11:30 a.m., Webster Avenue was reopened to northbound traffic. The southbound lanes were reopened around 2 p.m.

Walesh said there was no threat to the surrounding area.

There were no reported injuries or deaths related to the incident.

Irritant in Basement Lab Prompts Hazmat Response to Bellin Hospital

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