HOLYOKE – A section of Holyoke Medical Center was evacuated Monday after two employees were exposed to an unknown white powder that was mailed to the hospital in an envelope and later determined to be non-hazardous, according to the Holyoke Fire Department.
Two employees in an administrative office were exposed to the chemical when a small amount of the powder fell out of an envelope as it was opened at around noon, according to Fire Capt. Kevin Cavagnac.
Under the hospital’s emergency plan, the staff members isolated the envelope in the office, alerted security and other staff to the hazard, and immediately decontaminated themselves, according to Cavagnac. Security, along with the Holyoke Police, evacuated the immediate area and requested the Fire Department.
The two staff members were seen in the ER for observation while the regional hazmat team was requested to handle and identify the chemical, which it determined to be non-hazardous, according to the Holyoke Fire Department.
The Holyoke Police Detective Bureau, with assistance by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, are investigating the incident.