Franklin, Mass. — A sodium potassium leak at Franklin, Mass.-based Dynisco, a manufacturer of testing and sensing equipment, took dozens of first responders six hours and some video technology to get under control July 9.
Fire Chief James McLaughlin told local media a mechanical failure appears to have caused the leak of sodium potassium and the problem was exacerbated by the weather.
"It took us quite a while to stop the release," McLaughlin said. "[Sodium potassium] is pretty reactive to water and humidity."
Firefighters were called to the business about 8:55 a.m. When they arrived, all employees had been evacuated.
First responders were told there had been a fire in a room used to make tools for the plastics industry, but it had "self-extinguished," McLaughlin said.
Firefighters checked the room and found the chemical leak.
The state Hazardous Materials Unit was called and the incident was upgraded from a Tier 2 hazmat response to Tier 3, which is the highest level.
About 45 members of the hazmat team were at the scene, McLaughlin said.
The room with the leak had a monitoring camera that aided in handling the incident.
Employees watched the hazmat crew enter the room and directed them how to properly shut down all equipment.
"It was great use of technology," McLaughlin said. "Technology was used to our advantage today."
Dynisco makes sensors, control and analytical instruments for plastic extrusion, molding and process control applications.