Worker hospitalised in Runcorn chemical spillage

A worker has been treated in hospital overnight and some 22 people sent to Warrington A&E following a chemical spillage at Viridors energy-from-waste plant in Runcorn yesterday (March 19).

The spillage, which occurred on a part of the site still under construction by building firm Keppel Seghers at approximately 10.45am, saw one contract worker treated by the North West Ambulance Service for breathing difficulties.

The worker is continuing to be monitored at Warrington hospital today as a precautionary measure.

The incident involved a spillage of Air Pollution Control Residue, which is mainly comprised of hydrated lime an odourless white powder used within the plant to neutralise flue gases that is deemed an irritant to eyes and skin.

Meanwhile, a hospital spokesperson confirmed that around 22 people were self-presented to Warrington A&E after receiving small amounts of wind blow dust on their clothing. Viridor confirmed site procedures had been followed and 15 people had returned to the site by around 5.30pm yesterday.

Incident

The waste management firm went on to stress that it was not a cloudburst incident and had not occurred on the adjacent INEOS Chlorvinyls chlorine and PVC manufacturing site.
Viridor has confirmed the incident has been contained to a very small localised area of the site and that contractors were continuing to work while the incident was dealt with.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: We are supporting our partners in the emergency services and working with Viridor and Keppel Seghers to respond to yesterdays incident at Runcorn Energy from Waste (EfW) site concerning the release of material from a flue gas treatment plant incident.

We understand the spill has been contained and will be recovered by a specialist vacuum tanker this morning. Investigations are to be carried out into the cause of the incident.

Runcorn

Viridors 850,000 tonne capacity plant, which has been developed under a 25-year PFI contract with Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA), began burning refuse-derived fuel last week generating 51MW of heat and 70MW of electricity for the neigbouring INEOS site.

Keppel Seghers, which began construction on the facility in 2010, was rolling out the second phase of commissioning when the incident happened.

Viridor is scheduled to begin receiving RDF from outside GMWDA at the end of 2014.

• [Update: 21/02/14]
  Viridor last night confirmed the worker has been discharged from Warrington hospital. It is looking into what ‘lessons can be learnt’ from the incident.