Amazon: workers ‘doing well’ after hazmat response to Beaumont Amazon warehouse
On Friday morning, representatives from Amazon's Public Relations Team released this statement:
“Out of an abundance of caution, a haz-mat crew responded to our site when three employees reported skin irritation after being in a particular cargo trailer. Those employees were treated for the short-term irritation and are thankfully doing well. We stopped work in the area immediately so officials could investigate – they confirmed a solid residue was the cause and that it was safe to continue operations away from the trailer with no additional safety concern for others.”
-Elizabeth DeLuca, Amazon Public Relations
Team members also noted:
- We’ll continue working with officials to determine how to best dispose of the residue that caused the irritation.
2. This was not a hazardous chemical and was contained to the area where those employees were working.
Original Post from City News Service 2/16/23
An unknown substance seeping from a tractor-trailer parked in a loading dock at an Amazon warehouse in Beaumont today sickened at least six workers and prompted a hazardous materials response.
The hazmat emergency was reported about 4:40 p.m. at the warehouse at 36900 Fourth Street, on the extreme west end of the city, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said that multiple engine crews were sent to the location and found the semi at a loading bay cordoned off due to fumes.
"They're still trying to figure out what the source may be,'' fire department spokeswoman April Newman told City News Service.
Cal Fire confirmed on social media that six people required medical treatment at the scene, but it was not immediately clear whether any of the victims were hospitalized, and the exact nature of their exposure sickness could not be verified.
There was also no word on whether any part of the warehouse had to be evacuated.
As of 5:30 p.m., the investigation at the site was ongoing.
