Westwood: Acid Spill
9 / 7 /06 ,
BCDHS CASE #2006-9-30

INCIDENT DESCRIPTION:

At 8:57am on the morning of September 7, 2006 , Bergen County Haz-Mat personnel were summoned to the borough of Westwood.  A small plastic container had fallen off a passing vehicle, dumping several gallons of an unknown liquid product onto the roadway at a very busy intersection.  Local authorities became concerned when they observed that the product was smoking on the road’s surface.  This problem was especially pronounced where vehicles had driven through the spill area.  Westwood Police and Fire Department personnel isolated the area and requested BC Haz-Mat to respond. 

SUMMARY OF BCDHS ACTIVITIES:

Upon arrival BC Haz-Mat personnel were briefed by local responders.  No responsible party had been located and there was no identifying information on the container, which appeared to be reused.  The spill area and the container were initially examined with a thermal imaging camera.  Responders determined that the chemical reaction taking place was not generating a large quantity of heat.  Bergen County Haz-Mat personnel suited up in chemical protective clothing and in SCBA's  in order to be able to closely approach the spill area and the container.  Monitoring equipment included a multi-gas meter, a photoionizer and radiation detection equipment.  In addition, various additional tests were used to evaluate the hazard.  While all monitoring equipment recorded only background readings in the area of the spill, other tests indicated that the product in the container and on the roadway was water-based and extremely acidic in nature.  A pH reading of “0” was noted.   It was determined that the BC Haz-Mat entry team would utilize sodium carbonate to neutralize the product.  This was accomplished and the Westwood Fire Department completed the process by washing down the impacted area of roadway with a copious quantity of water. 

Haz-Mat responders utilizing monitoring equipment to assess the hazard. Haz-Mat responders utilizing air monitoring equipment.

Haz-Mat responders utilizing neutralizing agent on acid spilled on roadway.

For more information regarding this incident please contact the duty officer at 201-634-2804 M-F from 8:30-4:30. Please reference BCDHS CASE #2006-9-30.

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