BUTTERWORTH: Quick action by firemen successfully contained a chemical spill involving ammonia at a factory in Taman Pelangi, Perai, here on Friday.
Penang Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of firefighting and rescue operations, John Sagun Francis, said the department received an emergency call at 9.10am, after which the first engine from the Perai Fire and Rescue Station was dispatched to the location.
"Upon arrival, it was found that there was a leak involving 500 litres of ammonia.
"The operations commander was informed that the company had already neutralised the leak before the firefighters arrived. The Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Unit was contacted to go to the scene.
"The Hazmat operations commander conducted a size-up and took readings which showed a pH of 4, before instructing the company to create barriers to prevent further chemical flow,” he said in a statement.
Francis said Hazmat team carried out decontamination of the chemical using soda ash until the process was complete, and pH readings were taken again to ensure the area was safe.
The operation ended at 1.25 pm and no casualties were reported in the incident. — Bernama
