By MONIQUE DEVEREUX
Almost 30 people needed minor medical treatment after a chemical reaction at a Hamilton factory yesterday afternoon.
Roads were blocked off and five neighbouring buildings were evacuated after a large cloud of yellow gas sparked a full-scale chemical alert at High Tech Detergents in Duke St.
Workers in nearby buildings were told to shut windows and stay inside until the alert was over.
The gas cloud was caused by a 100 litre mixture of nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid that spilled from a drum onto a weighing machine, reacting with the metal.
The chemicals are dangerous to handle and can cause serious damage to eyes and skin.
St John Ambulance officers checked 27 people suffering sore throats and headaches from the gas, and three people were given oxygen.
The emergency was graded level 4, the Fire Service's highest rating. Firefighters wearing gas suits washed the chemicals into a holding tank.
Twenty firefighters in six appliances attended the alert and all off-duty staff were called in to man stations.
Duke St was blocked for 2 1/2 hours.
Hamilton acid spill sends workers reeling
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