Hazmat team responded to Saskatoon City Hospital chemical spill

The Saskatchewan Health Authority said Tuesday’s Code Brown (Hazardous Materials Incident) was due to a machine used in sterilizing endoscopy equipment was found to be leaking a hospital-grade disinfectant called Rapicide.

“We are currently working to repair the machine and expect to be back to normal operations tomorrow,” said the SHA release.

The Saskatoon Fire Department received a report of a chemical leak at the Saskatoon City Hospital at 10:27 a.m. on Tuesday.

Hospital staff met with fire crews to determine the incident location. Fire crew and hospital staff found a chemical spill in a non-ventilated room. The area was isolated and people were directed to muster points by fire crews.

The chemical identified in the July 2, 2024 spill at Saskatoon City Hospital was a hospital grade disinfectant called Rapicide. (Saskatoon Fire Department/Submitted)

In the Fire Department release it said the substance was identified as a hospital-grade disinfectant called Rapicide.

“(It) was leaking from a machine. The hazmat technicians turned the machine off and cleaned up the leaked disinfectant. The room was set up for ventilation as the hazmat team moved contaminated materials into an overpack barrel and then transferred the barrel outside for further disposal,” according to the Saskatoon Fire Department.

The scene continues to be ventilated and has been transferred to the Saskatoon City Hospital staff.

Four individuals were assessed by firefighter paramedics after a chemical spill at the Saskatoon City Hospital on July 2, 2024. No injuries or illnesses were reported. (Saskatoon Fire Department/Submitted)

Four people have been exposed to the chemical and they were assessed by firefighter paramedics.

There were no injuries or illness and the City Hospital’s emergency room remains open and operational.

Editors Note: This story was updated on July 2, 2024, at 3:26 p.m. to include the SHA statement, as well as at 1:00 p.m. to include details of the spill from the SFD.