Two men are hospitalized today following an early morning acid leak at a Fremont semiconductor-industry supply company that prompted the response of hazardous materials crews, the Fremont Fire Department reported.
Two employees of a private janitorial firm who were cleaning offices at the Metron Technology building, located at 44050 Fremont Blvd., discovered the leak at around 4:30 a.m., fire Capt. Gerry Fogel said.
The men contacted the owners of the business upon realizing the spill was not water and that it had been leaking from beneath a door that separated the offices from a warehouse, Fogel reported.
A private Hazmat team responded and determined the substance was acid coming from a spill in the warehouse, Fogel said. The Fremont Fire Department was then requested to assist.
Officials determined the spill was a dangerous combination of hydrofluoric acid, sodium hydroxide and sodium hydrosulfide, Fogel said. Hydrofluoric acid is reportedly considered one of the most dangerous acids in the semiconductor industry.
The two men who discovered the leak were transported to Washington Hospital for 48 hours of medical monitoring, Fogel said. One of the men complained of tingling in his lower legs.
Upon further investigation, fire officials noticed a significant spill on the warehouse floor and a full response from the Fremont Fire Department’s hazardous materials team was called.
Investigators discovered a pump had failed and that acid had been continuously flowing onto the warehouse floor for an undetermined amount of time, Fogel reported.
The chemicals could be contained in a secondary system built to accommodate such a spill and a private company was called to clean and haul the chemicals from the building, Fogel said.
No other injuries were reported and the building was declared safe at around 9 a.m.
Copyright © 2007 by Bay City News, Inc.
Print 
PDF