Emergency services descended upon an Australia Post facility in Melbourne on Tuesday after several postal workers fell seriously ill from suspected chemical exposure, requiring urgent hospital treatment.
Emergency Response at Mail Centre
Multiple ambulance crews raced to the Australia Post processing centre following reports of employees experiencing severe symptoms consistent with poisoning. According to witnesses, affected workers began feeling unwell while handling mail parcels, prompting immediate evacuation of sections of the facility.
Workers Rushed for Medical Treatment
At least three Australia Post employees were transported to hospital for emergency assessment and treatment. Medical professionals confirmed the patients were displaying symptoms indicative of chemical exposure, though their conditions were reported as stable.
A spokesperson for Ambulance Victoria stated: "We treated multiple patients at the scene for potential chemical exposure and transported them to hospital for further monitoring and care."
Investigation Underway
Australia Post has launched an immediate investigation into the incident, working closely with WorkSafe Victoria to determine the exact cause of the contamination. Early indications suggest the substance may have leaked from a package being processed through the facility.
"The safety and wellbeing of our people is our highest priority," an Australia Post representative emphasised. "We're working to understand exactly what occurred and have implemented additional safety measures while the investigation continues."
Operations Impacted
The incident caused significant disruption to mail processing operations at the facility, with affected areas remaining cordoned off while hazardous materials teams conducted safety assessments. Australia Post assured customers that delivery delays would be minimal as operations were redirected to alternative facilities.
WorkSafe Victoria has confirmed it will conduct a thorough investigation into workplace safety protocols at the site, examining whether proper handling procedures were followed for potentially hazardous materials.
