Garbage man faces serious chemical burns after hazmat situation in Colorado Springs
Celeste Springer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) says that hazmat teams are in the area of the 2400 block of North Chelton Road.
According to CSFD, they were called out around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Initial reports said a sanitation worker was dumping trash into a trash truck when CSFD says he was exposed to an “unknown substance.” The substance was later determined to be sulfuric acid, a corrosive liquid that can be found in items like car batteries, the department said.
He was taken to the hospital with serious burns, CSFD said. He has been airlifted to Denver in critical condition, the fire department said. The department adds that he received chemical burns over 60% of his body.
The fire department says the chemical is contained to the area of the trash truck, so there is no threat to the neighborhood.
The department wants to remind residents of the importance of properly disposing of hazardous material, which should not go in regular garbage bins.