Workplace Health and Safety is currently investigating an incident that occurred Tuesday at a provincial pathology lab on the University of Manitoba campus, where three people were sent to the hospital after complaining of a strange odor in the building.
Emergency officials arrived at the Agriculture Services Building at 545 University Crescent at approximately 9:30 a.m. after an alarm was pulled to evacuate the building.
Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service assistant chief of operations Bill Clark said the initial report fire officials received was that there were 10 people injured. A mobile emergency response vehicle was dispatched in case the were several casualties, Clark explained.
“When we got there, everybody had left the scene,” said Clark.
U of M director of Public Affairs John Danakas said the incident didn’t disrupt U of M operations for staff and students, considering the Agriculture Services Building is not a U of M facility, although some of the individuals took refuge in U of M buildings after they were evacuated.
Clark explained that fire officials examined the building thoroughly but couldn’t find anything wrong. Workplace Health and Safety was then called to investigate.
Clark said paramedics then went to check on the individuals who had fled to the U of M building after the evacuation and asked them if anyone wasn’t feeling well. Three people said they “weren’t feeling too good,” said Clark.
“We checked them out and transported them to the hospital in stable condition,” said Clark.
Assistant deputy minister for Workplace Health and Safety (WSH) Don Hurst confirmed that an occupational hygienist from WHS has responded and is currently investigating the incident.
The investigation will include conducting air quality monitoring, tests of the building’s heating and ventilation systems, and testing for potentially hazardous chemicals.
WSH has confirmed that there are no risks to workers in the building.
“WSH is continuing to follow up with Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives to find the source of the problem, determine if there are other problems and to ensure ongoing safety of the workplace,” said Hurst in an email.
