Hazmat incident at Canada Post processing centre in Richmond

Emergency services are currently on the scene at a Canada Post processing centre near YVR airport in Richmond after two people were contaminated by a “granular substance.”

“RFR (Richmond Fire Service) received a call for a Hazardous Materials response at 14:12 pm for a report of a granular substance,” Deputy Chief, Operations Tim Wilkinson confirmed to Daily Hive via email.

“The substance has been isolated and CBSA (the Canada Border Services Agency) and RFR staff are coordinating to identify the substance.”

The substance was spilled when a package was broken on a conveyor belt, said Wilkinson. Two people were contaminated and began to display medical symptoms, he said.

According to Wilkinson, “Those persons have been decontaminated and moved to BCAS (BC Ambulance Service) for further medical examination.”

Some 12 other people have also been isolated and protected in place as they were potentially contaminated, however they are currently showing no medical symptoms, he said.

BC Ambulance Service and the RCMP are currently on the scene with the CBSA acting as the lead agency.

More to follow…