Man critical following firm's second toxic gas leak - video
AN Immingham man remains in a critical condition today following the explosion at Millennium Chemicals – in which three others were injured.
The Telegraph can today reveal that the explosion involved the same toxic gas - Titanium Tetrachloride - that the firm was prosecuted for releasing into the atmosphere in 2006.
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Last year, it was fined £60,000 for that and another breach of health and safety regulations.
As reported on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk, four people were taken to hospital following the explosion at the plant on Laporte Road at 12.10am yesterday, when a pressurised container ruptured, resulting in a release of Titanium Tetrachloride (TiCl4) liquid and fumes.
Tests carried out on air samples quickly ruled out any danger to the public.
A spokesperson for Cristal Global, which owns the plant, following its sale in 2007, said: "We are in close touch with the families of the injured men and are supporting them in every way we can.
"Our thoughts and our focus are primarily with our injured colleagues at this time."
Four men were taken to hospital, one with serious injuries, following the explosion at Cristal Global, formally Millennium Chemicals.
The emergency services released the site back to the company yesterday afternoon for a complete investigation to be carried out.
One man working on a nearby plant risked his own safety to help the workers involved in the incident, after hearing a "loud explosion".
The man who does not wish to be named, said the man who was most seriously injured is believed to be in his late 40s with two teenage children.
He has been transferred to a specialist burns unit at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, where his condition is described as critical but stable. Three others were taken to Grimsby's hospital, and two of those were discharged during the day, whilst the other was kept in for observations, according to a police spokeswoman.
Read reaction from local councillors and residents, and about the previous incident, in today's Grimsby Telegraph.
17 Comments
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by at home, ming
Sunday, March 07 2010, 7:21PM
“'Operator' and 'In the Know', I would like to echo your thoughts. I would like to wish both Paul and Ron a full and speedy recovery. No one should have to go through this. My thoughts are with both of them and their families at this time, and I know many other people from MIC feel the same too. Also I would like to say thank you to the guys in S&R who train hard to do a good job when things go wrong, without you I am sure lives would have been lost.”
by In the know, UK
Sunday, March 07 2010, 5:33PM
“I think it's very disrespectful to speculate, I know what happened and have enough respect not divulge the facts except the two injured people were not at fault what so ever, and the vessel in question should have water in but not TiCl4. Also people of Stallingborough, you were not in danger so didn't need to be informed so should stop scaremonging, the people in danger were on the river hence they stopped traffic and took air tests on the North bank as reported in the GET.
But people like myself shouldn't be having to stick up for people who obviously don't know what has gone on, we should all be wishing the 2 men a speedy recovery.
It is disgusting how a young boy dies in a car and people speculate, and then this happens and people speculate. Please can the web editors block posts that are of such nature out of respect for Paul's family and friends as it is a difficult time for us all, as you did for the pages relating to Calvin Saunders.
GET, I know you are after the story, but getting it from unofficial sources does not mean it is reliable, and everyone there on that night or people like myself who have seen the point of explosion and/or incident report has more common sense than to spread the story before an investigation has been concluded.
The full details of the incident will be revealed eventually for everyone to read and then comment on, but for now can we please just stick to keeping the 2 men in our prayers as they are in a very very bad state.
Get well soon Paul & Ron, my thoughts are with you.”
by Operator, Grimsby
Sunday, March 07 2010, 3:54PM
“i have worked at this plant for a number of years and to be honest i find the majority of these comment to be very hurtful,
Luke in Grimsby, i would like you to know that on the part of the plant that the accident happened (which i have worked) TiCl4 is NOT supposed to be there, however on start up water IS supposed to be there so please do not make comments regarding what the operator should and should not know until you know all the facts yourself, the main thing is that 2 men, 2 damn good men who i consider friends are hurt, very seriously hurt and everybodys thoughts and prayers should be with them...”
by DIANE, Grimsby
Sunday, March 07 2010, 1:09PM
“Just in case of any more sarcasm the car is incidental.”
by Diane Dalziel, Grimsby
Sunday, March 07 2010, 1:07PM
“In response to the rather aggressive comments I received. The priority here should be safety for those who work there and those who live nearby. In relation to people not hearing the alarm this was stated on BBC s Look North by people living nearby. We are all allowed an opinion and once again I say I my thoughts are with the poor people who are injured and their families.”
by Mr Benson, Humber Bank.
Sunday, March 07 2010, 10:23AM
“Luke . Grimsby.
Luke your reply to Telly is most enlightening, tell me, is this the same kind of situation that occurred in late 2002 when water entered the TiCl4 system and brought the factory to a stand still for a lengthy period?
As for your questionable assertion that "the operators should have known the system was down and needs to be dry¿d before use... " fully deserves contempt, bearing in mind the length of years that the injured parties have been doing their tasks.
As for flippantly stating "but accidents do happen dosnt matter if the place has a strict COMA,HSE,EA."
I will enlighten you with what COMAH stands for as concisely as possible. The Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations ensuring that businesses: Take all necessary measures to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances, please notice the use of the word, ALL.
Your comment, "we cant really blame the company..." well from what is required under the COMAH Regs, who does one blame?
Could you put this to your boss's for confirmation, if his reply is, it's only a bit of TiCl4, maybe you should do a runner.
Understand?”
by luke, Grimsby
Sunday, March 07 2010, 8:52AM
“Telly, On a Top Town Bench
From what ive been told from my boss's the system was shut down for 24hours is there is any kind of vapour it explodes we cant really blame the company due to the fact the operator should of known the system was down and needs tobe dry'd before use. but accidents do happen dosnt matter if the place has a strict COMA,HSE,EA”
by Luke, Grimsby
Sunday, March 07 2010, 8:45AM
“Diane Dalziel, Grimsby
THE ALARMS WAS SOUNDED OVER 5MINUET'S I WAS HALF AMILE DOWN THE ROAD WORKING GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT.
Hope the guy who was injured gets well soon.”
by Ian Gillan, Immingham
Sunday, March 07 2010, 12:54AM
“Millennium doesn't have a community alarm that I'm aware of. Their alarms are just to advise the people working on the site that it's a major emergency.
Why don't they have one, given that they have chlorine and other nasty things that, if released into the community, could be catastrophic?”
by Factory worker, Here
Saturday, March 06 2010, 9:17PM
“I can assure you Dianne and everyone else who claims they heard nothing, I was working a nightshift at an adjacent factory when the alarms went off. They sounded for quite a while and were extremely loud. I can only speculate that some posters have an axe to grind.
I dont know who the injured were but as a chemical industry worker myself, wish them a speedy recovery.”