Three people were treated for minor exposure to caustic liquid after a leak in the U.S. Steel Tower Downtown on Wednesday evening.
The problem occurred after a contractor working on the building drilled a hole, causing a leak from a column of the building that is filled with fire protection fluid, Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Amanda Mueller said.
Hazmat crews arrived just after 7 p.m. to help control the leak, and it was contained by about 10:30 p.m.
Ms. Mueller said three people, including two police officers, were treated at the scene for their exposure to the liquid, which can cause skin irritation. The hazmat teams were collecting the fluid and containing it in vacuum trucks.
Ms. Mueller said the crews were coordinating with Alcosan and the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The emergency response clogged up roads throughout Downtown for hours Wednesday night. Police dispatchers earlier said buses trying to leave the Greyhound station at 55 11th St. were having trouble getting out of the inner city.
The tower, at 600 Grant St., is home to UPMC’s world headquarters.
First Published: April 6, 2023, 1:40 a.m.
Updated: April 6, 2023, 10:12 a.m.