Classes are expected to resume today at Holy Name Convent, Port-of-Spain, following an incident yesterday where a bottle of acetic acid was found to be leaking in a cupboard in one of the science labs.
The incident caused the early closure of the school and classes at the neighbouring Holy Name Preparatory School, located on the same compound at Queen’s Park East, also to be interrupted temporarily. Those students were allowed to return to the school after fire officials gave the all clear during the mid-morning period.
During an interview, a school official confirmed the leaking bottle was discovered around 7 am by a lab assistant who detected “some not so pleasant fumes.” The official said procedures were initiated immediately to preserve the safety of the 52-staff members and 675-student population, as well as all other occupants on the premises.
The official added fire officials were contacted and assisted in securing the leaking bottle and local firm, Green Engineering, was called in to aid in the removal of the leaking bottle from the compound. Green Engineering specialises in various aspects of environmental management and engineering services.
Describing the incident as “something seemingly simple” which had prompted an investigation to determine how the bottle came to be leaking, the official said they were still awaiting confirmation on how it occurred. Although no one fell ill as a result of the toxic fumes, the official said the lab assistant was sent for medical attention to ensure there were no lasting ill effects.
The official said it was normal for the school to be in possession of certain acids and other chemical agents as science students required them for use as part of the syllabus. However, it was stressed that all such agents were normally secured and that yesterday’s incident had led to a tightening of those procedures.
Praising the Fire Services for their timely assistance, the official lamented the fact that their equipment was not up to standard “in terms of coping with a chemical crisis.”
Pressed to elaborate, the official was unsure if the hazmat suits worn by the officers were up to standard.
‘Sad state of affairs’
Contacted on the matter, president of the Fire Services Association Leo Ramkissoon expressed concern as he said that officers who responded to the call yesterday, "did not have the equipment needed to treat with this situation in its entirety." He said after arriving at the school, officers were forced to contact the Savonetta Fire Station to seek the assistance of the hazmat response team as they were unable to treat with the hydrochloric containment.
Ramkissoon was critical of the State as he said that was clear evidence of the lack of equipment. "One is left to wonder what a great predicament we would have been in if this was on a much larger scale and more serious," he said. He said it was a "sad thing" that an external company had to be called in to complete the process.