Hazmat Situation At Wrentham Water Plant

WRENTHAM, MA — Hazmat crews responded to the water plant in Wrentham where two employees received chemical burns — including a 40-year-old employee who was splashed in the face and eyes with the chemical potassium hydroxide — Tuesday morning.

Wrentham Fire Chief Antonio Marino said emergency service crews responded to the Tier 1 incident at the plant on Franklin Street about 9:20 a.m. Marino said two workers, ages 40 and 23, received non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment.

Both were wearing eye protection at a time.

Marino said the preliminary investigation determined the employees were conducting routine maintenance when a pressurized hose began to leak. The cause of the leak is under investigation.

The hazmat team was called in to assist in the clean up of a small amount of the chemical that spilled and determine the scene was safe. The Department of Environmental Protection was also notified, per state protocols.

Marino said the scene was cleared about 11:20 a.m. and thanked the Wrentham police and both Norfolk and Foxborough fire departments for their help responding to the scene.