CENTERVILLE – A person was critically injured in what was termed an industrial accident at the Mass Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) on Falmouth Road (Route 28) in Centerville around 8 AM.
In a statement, the Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills (COMM) fire department reported that they “received a call for an unresponsive person at the above address. COMM FD Car 321, Car 323, Ambulance 324 arrived on location. Staff from the MSPCA were administering CPR to the patient. Advanced Life Support was initiated. Ambulance 326 and the Barnstable Police Department arrived on scene. The patient was transported to Cape Cod Hospital. Information on the chemical used in the system was gathered and speedi-dry was placed in the area to assist with clean-up.
The below agencies were notified and called to the scene to investigate the accident and the cause:
Barnstable County Sheriffs Department, Town of Barnstable Inspectors (gas, plumbing, health and building,) Department of Fire Services Boiler Inspection Division, and OSHA.”
Barnstable Police tell the Cape Cod Broadcasting Newscenter that an employee of a HVAC company was working on the system at the shelter when he was exposed to a chemical. The unidentified Dennis man called a fellow employee for help, who found the victim unresponsive a short time later. The man was taken to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis and was admitted to the ICU. No further information was available about his condition.
COMM Fire reported that the The Mass Department of Fire Services’ (DFS) Boiler & Presssure Vessel inspectors are investigating the incident. Cape Wide News checked with DFS and received the following statement: A heating contractor was working on the boiler and there was a malfunction. He was injured and taken to the hospital. DFS is investigating what happened and s is the OSHA. The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Program was transferred to DFS office about 2 years ago. They’re a great asset to fire investigators (although this is not a fire investigation case). DFS added that the victim suffered a burn injury not chemical exposure.
Statement from MSPCA: At approximately 8:00 a.m. this morning a maintenance technician was onsite at the MSPCA-Cape Cod for equipment repair and was found unresponsive by our adoption center veterinarian, who administered CPR until emergency services arrived. The gentleman is now in the intensive care unit at Cape Cod Hospital.
The MSPCA-Cape Cod will remain closed for today and will return to normal operations tomorrow. We did not need to evacuate. Our thoughts and prayers are with this gentleman and his family.
