Toxic Spill Sends 3 to Hospital

A toxic chemical spill at a Lake Forest shipping dock sent three freight workers to the hospital Wednesday morning.

The lid on a one-gallon container of the substance, described as alkyl ether amine, popped off as workers loaded cases of it onto a truck at the Conway Western Express terminal on Prism Place, facility manager Bob Canty said.

Only a small amount of the liquid spilled, Fire Authority information officer Garry Layman said.

The chemical can be caustic enough to eat through concrete and is toxic if inhaled, Layman said.

Three workers were taken to Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, and one was treated for a mild respiratory problem, Layman said.

Other employees were evacuated from the area while a Santa Ana Fire Department hazardous-materials team cleaned up the site.

“The spill was due to a leak; it wasn’t a handling problem,” Layman said.