9 treated after haz-mat scare in downtown Vancouver

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9 treated after haz-mat scare in downtown Vancouver

Last Updated: Friday, January 30, 2009 |

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/01/30/bc-downtown-suscipious-package.html

A hazardous-materials team was deployed to examine a package delived to a downtown Vancouver office after some workers who came into contact with it felt sick. (CBC)

Nine people were decontaminated Friday afternoon after a suspicious package was delivered to an office at a downtown Vancouver building.

Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the Waterfront Centre at 200 Burrard St. shortly after noon regarding the package that was delivered to a 12th floor office.

Four employees noticed a strong odour coming off the package and complained about itchy, watery eyes and dizziness.

Five security guards escorted the workers out of the building, and all nine of them had to hand over their clothing and be washed down by members of a hazardous materials team.

The four workers were also treated for irritated eyes and nausea.

Police cordoned off a block of Burrard Street by W. Cordova Street as the haz-mat team examined the package.

It was determined that the package, which contained papers and legal documents, was harmless.

"When the parcel was delivered, there might have been an odour on the parcel from the delivery truck, and that's what they smelled and that's what we're dealing with," said Insp. Bob Chapman of the Vancouver Police Department.

"We are going to take it and examine it further in a lab … but there's nothing that is dangerous to the public here."

The workers were allowed to return to their office.How fun is this? IMing with Windows Live Messenger just got better.