Chemical Reaction Could be to Blame for Monday's HazMat Incident

A HazMat team monitored and vented a house at 57 St. Mary's Road yesterday after a paint remover apparently reacted with carbon monoxide, sending four people to Milton Hospital.

Milton Fire Chief John Grant said a concrete cause of the vapors that overtook one worker and caused another to feel ill on Monday has not been determined, but it appears that a chemical in the Strip-Ease they were using reacted with carbon monoxide.

The vapors in the home also sent the homeowner and a responding police officer to the hospital. According to Grant those individuals were treated and released.

The conditions of the two workers were not available, but Grant said the worker who was overcome by the fumes suffered chemical burns and was transported to Mass General.

The Milton Fire Department and HazMat team used fans to air out the property while monitoring vapor levels. HazMat left the scene after 3:30 p.m. once the levels dropped below IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health) concentrations.

Two firefighters remained at the home to continue to vent and secure the property. Grant said the homeowners are still not permitted in the home. The contractor who employs the two injured workers will hire an environmental cleanup company to secure the home.

OSHA is also conducting an investigation to determine if the incident was caused by negligence.