SOUTH PARK TOWNSHIP, Pa. – An incident occurred at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention facility in South Park Township, Allegheny County, resulting in one person being injured in a small explosion of hazardous waste material. The event took place on the Bruceton Research Center property, a 200-acre federal site housing laboratories for various government agencies. The incident occurred just before 1 p.m. on Cochran Mill Road.
According to the CDC, the explosion occurred while an outside vendor was loading hazardous waste material into a truck, causing the individual to sustain injuries. The injured person was promptly transported to a local hospital for treatment. No details regarding the person’s identity or condition were disclosed. Fortunately, no federal staff members were involved in the incident, and the property did not suffer any damage.
CDC officials confirmed that there is no immediate risk to staff or the facility from potential hazardous material releases. The Allegheny County hazmat coordinator was present at the scene to offer support, with the Broughton Fire Department leading the local investigation. As a precautionary measure, the bomb squad was called in to address some remaining packages at the scene due to concerns about their explosive nature.
The Bruceton Research Center is home not only to the CDC’s Pittsburgh facility but also to the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, two divisions of NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health), and the Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration’s Pittsburgh Safety and Health Technology Center. Collaborative efforts are underway to ensure the safety and security of the site in light of the recent hazardous waste material incident.