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Emergency services called to housing association offices after carpet clean leaves staff feeling ‘sick and dizzy’
Housing association staff had to be treated by paramedics this week after an office carpet clean left them feeling “sick and dizzy”.
Fire, ambulance and police crews were called to Sovereign’s offices in Christchurch on Monday morning after employees were experiencing breathing problems.
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said the force attended after the fire service reported “a suspect hazardous material incident”.
Eleven people were treated at the scene after reporting feeling sick, but no-one was taken to hospital.
Sovereign, which owns nearly 59,000 homes, said the incident occurred after a carpet clean over the weekend.
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Four ambulances and two fire engines were sent out, and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue ventilated the building.
A spokesperson for Sovereign said: “Some of our contact team in our Christchurch office were affected following a carpet clean over the weekend.
“Symptoms were very minor, but everyone was checked as a precaution. It only affected a small part of the building and the office is fully open, with services operating as normal.”
A spokesperson for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said: “We were called at 9.26am on 19/08/19 to a property on Grange Road, Christchurch to reports of 11 people with respiratory problems caused by an unknown substance.
“Two appliances from Christchurch attended the incident.
“On investigation the unknown substance was found to be some floor cleaner and ventilation of the building was carried out by the crews, and the people affected were left in the care of the ambulance service.”
South Western Ambulance Service said: “We were called on Monday at around 9.20am to a property in Christchurch after some people reported feeling sick and dizzy.
“We sent a number of resources to the scene – four ambulances and a senior paramedic.
“Our teams treated 11 patients at the scene, but none were taken to hospital.”
