White powdery substance causes scare in West Jordan

WEST JORDAN — A silicon-gel based powder used to keep moisture out of shipped packages caused a small scare at a sporting goods distribution center today.

An unknown substance was found in large semi-trailer parked in front of the Sportsman's Warehouse distribution center, near 9700 South and 6200 West, about 10:30 a.m., said West Jordan Assistant Fire Chief Marc McElreath. The trailer was full of packaged products for the store.

Four employees entered the trailer to make preparations to unload it, when they came in contact with a white powdery substance, McElreath said. It was unclear whether the group came in contact with the white substance by opening a box or if the material was already on the floor.

One of the employees complained of respiratory problems and left to take himself to the hospital before emergency crews arrived, McElreath said. When West Jordan fire crews found out, they contacted Sandy Fire to intercept the man and decontaminate him first so as not to infect an entire hospital ward should the white substance have turned out to be toxic.

That employee complained of minor respiratory problems, McElreath said. The other three employees who were in the trailer have not complained of any symptoms.

Two firefighters got into protective hazardous materials suits to go into the trailer, grabbed a sample of the powder and tested it with the help of the Army National Guard's 85th Civil Support Division.

That's when crews determined the powder was just the gel used in packaging. It can be an irritant if it gets into a person's respiratory system, which is apparently what happened with the employee, McElreath said. But it is not a toxic health risk.

All employees were expected to make full recoveries.