Two Auckland spillage alarms

Press, 8 January 1980, Page 4

Two Auckland spillage alarms

PA Auckland Auckland emergency services were put on the alert yesterday afternoon for two unconnected chemical 1 spillages. '

Highly flammable solvents' spilled at the railway station inward goods-yard creating what a fireman described as the potential of an unexploded bomb. At an industrial plant in Ellerslie, firemen stood by in special chemical suits, preparing to deal with a small leakage of corrosive chemicals from an electrical capacitor.

The chemical was reported to be extremely dangerous if brought in contact with skin,

and firemen were forced to handle it’ carefully at the Tolley Industries plant in Gavin Street. Scientists and dangerous goods inspectors were on "hand to advise them as the firemen, after a recommendation by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, loaded the spilled chemical into a big steel container. It was taken to the Pikes Point tip and buried in a deep pit.

At the railway station, a fork hoist damaged a container spilling the dangerous contents.

Firemen speedily covered the spillage with sawdust and sand, and washed it away.