Chemical leak alert at Edinburgh hospital

Hazard identification methods may be called into question as a result of a chemical scare at a hospital in Scotland that led to staff being evacuated from the facility.

An alert was sparked at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and it is believed to have been caused by a canister of dry ice, reports STV.

Fire crews were called to the location in order to deal with the incident, which occurred on Monday afternoon (January 23rd) at around 16:15 GMT.

A member of staff reported there had been a spill at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, which led to the research centre and the adjacent building being cleared for around an hour while a thorough investigation was carried out by officials.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called to a report of a chemical incident. When we arrived we found a bottle of liquid nitrogen which a member of staff had put in a fridge."

It was added: "The bottle was inspected and appeared to be in a safe condition, so it was handed back to hospital staff."

Emergency procedures dictated police and ambulance crews were called to the scene, but they were not required to intervene as the incident was dealt with swiftly.

Some 25 firefighters entered the MRC Human Genetics Unit in order to check the building for a dangerous chemical leak at the location, but they concluded there was no risk to health.

Last month, patients were evacuated from the Royal Hobart Hospital in Australia as a result of a chemical leak at the facility, while police also closed local roads.

According to a report by the Mercury, a section of Liverpool St between Campbell and Argyle St was among those to be shut, with the smell of chemicals believed to have come from a block at the hospital that was undergoing extensive rebuilding work.