The NSW Fire Brigade and Police were called to the University of Sydney’s Abercrombie Business School following a reported chemical spill earlier this morning.
Paramedics and Police operations were called to the area just before 10 am, setting up blockades at the top of Butlin Avenue, before City Road. The operation called for a specialist Hazmat crew to assist with the incident.
Exclusion zones are currently set up around Codrington Street and Butlin Avenue which are being enforced by NSW Police. Some students were notified of the incident by text message.
It was reported that some members of the community were attended to by ambulance services and taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
In an announcement to their website made by the University of Sydney earlier today, “Emergency services and hazmat personnel attended a chemical incident on our Darlington Campus.” “[…]there do not seem to have been serious injuries as a result”, it read.
However, it was later confirmed that three people have been taken to hospital as a result of the incident including one employee and two bystanders with one sustaining burn injuries to his hands.
A public update provided by Fire and Rescue NSW earlier today confirmed that the person who received burn injuries was taken to the hospital. “A further two people were also transported as a precaution,” the update said.
SafeWork and NSW Environment Protection Authority have been notified of the incident.
Fire NSW was contacted for comment.
The University urged that if members of the community that were in the vicinity of the Sydney Uni Sports and Aquatic Centre and Service Building are experiencing itchiness to the eyes or skin or irritation to the respiratory tract, to seek medical advice immediately.
There has currently been no update on the condition of the three patients taken to hospital.
According to the University announcement, “there is no ongoing safety or security risk to our community”.
