Families were forced to stay indoors for around four hours after a potentially dangerous cloud of gas formed at a Black Country chemical plant.
People living within a 500m radius of Rhodia Consumer Specialities Ltd in Oldbury were told to keep their doors and windows shut and avoid leaving their homes yesterday afternoon.
Fire crews were called to a phosphorus oxychloride leak at the site shortly after 12.30pm.
The five-storey chemical plant in Trinity Street was isolated as experts tackled the leak.
The corrosive gas can cause burns and reacts violently with water, creating hydrogen chloride as well as generating heat.
In extreme cases it can be fatal and if inhaled also affects the body’s respiratory system, central nervous system and kidneys.
A spokesman for Rhodia said today: “A full investigation will be launched as soon as possible in liaison with local regulatory authorities to determine the cause of this incident.”
West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Mike Fox said the incident involved a leak of phosphorus oxychloride mixed with water, which produced hydrogen chloride gas.
Fire crews from West Bromwich, Smethwick and Dudley attended along with fire service chemical specialists.
Later in the afternoon, on-site technicians carried out a survey of the premises and found only a small quantity of phosphorus oxychloride had leaked out.
The gas cloud that formed as a result of the leak was reduced by on-site company firefighters and West Midlands firefighters, who worked from a hydraulic platform.
Fire crews then met with site specialists to plan a clean-up operation of the premises.
Inhalation of phosphorus oxychloride vapours can cause dizziness, headaches, vomiting and chest pains.
It can also lead to permanent eye damage.
One Comment
I would strongly advise people in the locality of this plant to keep a note of this incident, I inhaled phosphorus fumes and later developed asthma, they later had to pay out compensation, be warned.
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