4 Injured in Toxic Spill at Pacoima Freight Company

A barrel containing a toxic chemical ruptured on the loading dock of a Pacoima freight company on Monday, resulting in minor injuries to four workers and in the evacuation of some offices in the adjacent building, a Los Angeles County health officials said.

Hazardous materials teams from the Department of Health Services and the Los Angeles Fire Department were called about 9:30 a.m. to Consolidated Freightways at 12100 Montague St. after a leak of organic peroxide was reported, said Steve Stewart, a health services spokesman.

A 55-gallon drum containing 30 gallons of the chemical exploded in a caged area of the loading dock, Stewart said. Ten employees were evacuated from offices near the loading dock. Four of them complained of skin irritation or breathing congestion believed to have been caused by fumes from the leaking chemical, he said. They were treated at the scene by paramedics.

Investigators are trying to determine what caused the barrel to rupture, Stewart said.

The loading dock area where the incident occurred will be closed until a cleanup is completed. Consolidated Freightways officials on Monday declined to comment on the incident.