Chemical leak at distribution centre injures 28
June 28th 2010 A chemical leak at a frozen food distribution centre in the Midlands has injured 28 people.
Ammonia leaked from a pipe during routine maintenance of a freezer at the Brakes depot in Tamworth, Staffordshire on Friday, June 25.
The engineer carrying out the maintenance suffered 15 per cent burns and was taken to hospital, as were others with breathing difficulties. The majority of those affected were treated at the scene and discharged.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The most seriously injured was a man in his thirties with 15% burns having been contaminated by the chemical involved. He was decontaminated with water by firefighters and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham."
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Tamworth Area Commander, Del Roberts added: “There has been a chemical leak which we can now confirm is a small amount of ammonia. Brakes Chilled Food Distribution has been evacuated however there is no cause for concern regarding the ammonia.”
The fire service consulted with an onsite specialist on how best to isolate the leak.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating the incident. More articles from Handling & Storage Solutions: | 
