Protect Workers and Building Inhabitants From Pool Chlorine Fumes

Facilities that maintain indoor swimming pools, such as hotels and schools, must ensure safe chlorine levels and watch for leaks as excessive exposure to chlorine can sicken people. Yesterday, one person at North Hills High School in Pittsburgh was hospitalized after a hazardous materials situation caused by a chlorine leak near the school’s pool, WPXI-TV reports.

A school maintenance worker noticed a strong chlorine odor and alerted emergency personnel. Emergency crews ventilated the pool area and walked through the building with a meter to test chlorine levels. They secured the leak and resolved the hazmat situation within an hour.

When liquid chlorine is released, as in a leak, it can quickly turn into a gas that spreads rapidly, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Exposure to excessive levels of chlorine can lead to numerous symptoms including:

• Watery eyes
• Blurred vision
• Wheezing
• Burning pain, redness, and blisters on the skin
• Burning sensation in the nose, throat, and eyes
• Coughing
• Chest tightness
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Fluid in the lungs
• Nausea and vomiting.

The CDC recommends that people who have been exposed to excessive amounts of chlorine or chlorine gas follow these actions:

• Leave the area where the chlorine was released and get to fresh air.
• If you think you may have been exposed, remove your clothing, cutting off any clothing that needs to be pulled over the head. If possible, seal the clothing in a plastic bag.
• Rapidly wash your entire body with large amounts of soap and water, then seek medical help.
• If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes.
• If you wear contacts, remove them before rinsing your eyes, and place them in the bags with the contaminated clothing.
• If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put the eyeglasses back on after you wash them.
• If you have swallowed (ingested) chlorine, do not induce vomiting or drink fluids. Immediately seek medical help.