Washington County plant closes while 300-gallon chemical spill cleaned up

A chemical spill at a manufacturing plant on Monday in Washington County closed the facility for the day, authorities said.

By Paul Walsh and Allie Shah, Star Tribune

Last update: October 15, 2007 - 10:18 PM

A chemical spill at a manufacturing plant on Monday in Washington County closed the facility for the day, authorities said.

The spill of about 300 gallons of hydrochloric acid occurred about 9 a.m. at Diversified Manufacturing Corp. on the Newport-St. Paul Park city line, St. Paul Park Fire Chief Kurk Lee said.

No illnesses or injuries were reported, although 13 people were decontaminated and given medical exams, the chief said.

The acid spilled when a forklift tipped while moving the acid container off a truck in the plant parking lot, Lee said. St. Paul Park Police Chief Mike Monahan said the container broke open.

The site was cleared about noon, Lee said, but employees were sent home for the day while cleanup continued. The acid is used to clean chemical drums.

Monahan said several small businesses near Diversified Manufacturing were also evacuated but no property damage was reported. Authorities tested the air quality but determined there was no hazard, Monahan said. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency was contacted and cleaned up the spill.

Diversified, according to its website, is a contract manufacturer for products in the area of cosmetics/personal care and topical pharmaceutical, automotive, household and industrial goods.