Emergency Room, Lab Evacuated; No One Hurt : Gas Leak Empties Part of Hospital

A gas leak at a Canoga Park hospital Wednesday forced the evacuation of a dozen people from the emergency room and pharmacy area but caused no injuries.

The evacuation occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m., when an employee at Humana Hospital West Hills discovered ethylene oxide leaking from a sterilizing machine near the second-floor pharmacy.

More than 50 firefighters, including members of the Los Angeles city Fire Department’s hazardous materials squad, were called to the scene. They checked to make certain the highly toxic gas dispersed safely after a hospital worker shut off the leak.

Officials said ethylene oxide fumes are explosive and can be fatal if inhaled. However, the gas used in sterilizing machinery is mixed with freon, an inert gas that neutralizes the ethylene oxide.

“We suspect the air-handling system they were required to put in there has done its job and taken the toxic gas out,” said Bob Ramirez, an assistant city fire chief. “We take the worst-case assumption until we find out the freon is there.”

Al Chin, associate executive director of the hospital, said six patients were moved from the emergency room to a conference area without complications.

However, another patient, who had been brought in following a head-on traffic collision, remained in the emergency room with two doctors, three nurses and a lab technician. The patient, Rose Oteri, 68, of Canoga Park, later died of her accident injuries, officials said.

Officials said none of the approximately 140 other patients in the 236-bed, six-story hospital were affected.

Hospital administrators credited supply technician Glenn Scott with shutting off the sterilizing machine as soon as he heard the sound of the odorless gas spewing out of a hole in a pipe attached to one of two 40-gallon gas containers attached to the machine. About 15 gallons leaked.

Scott was examined and released and will be given further medical tests today, said Tony Struthers, assistant executive director.

Officials allowed hospital staff to return to the emergency room about an hour after the incident. However, a laboratory and X-ray area next to the pharmacy remained closed much of the evening.

Fire Department Battalion Chief John Adams said gas measurements of 10 parts per million were recorded inside the lab area. Fifty parts per million and above can cause injury, he said.

Firefighters were hosed off before they left the scene to wash away any hazardous residue that might have stuck to their protective suits.