Forklife mishap causes chemical spill

Firefighters spent most of the day cleaning up over 600 litres of hydrogen peroxide spilled in Hamilton this morning after workers at a chemicals factory pierced a 1000-litre drum with a forklift.

About 40 firefighters were called to the spill at the Ecolab plant in Te Rapa, in northern Hamilton, just before 10am.

Workers spilled some of the chemical inside the factory, and while trying to clean up took the rest of it outside which also had to be dealt with, Fire Service Waikato assistant area manager Darryl Papesch told NZPA.

Ecolab workers put absorbent material on the chemical, which started reacting with the hydrogen peroxide. They then called the Fire Service, which evacuated the area and neutralised the spill with caustic soda. There were about 20 workers at the site.

Ecolab staff were trained and equipped to deal with spills, but decided to call the firefighters as it became too dangerous for them, Mr Papesch said.

Industrial strength hydrogen peroxide is a very strong bleach which reacts with anything organic, can cause instant blindness and will corrode many materials, including skin.

The fire crews called in an Auckland-based hazardous substance technical adviser.

Firefighters deemed the factory safe to return to late this afternoon, although the liquid was still giving off a harmless vapour, Mr Papesch said.

Ecolab had its own processes and catchment areas for chemicals, so they disposed of the neutralised liquid, he said.

- NZPA