Explosion and ammonia leak at meat plant
02 November 2011
Two contractors were taken to hospital after an explosion occurred last week inside a meat processing plant that was sparked by a chemical leak.
Welsh Country Foods, Gaerwen
A fire broke out in the refrigeration plant at Welsh Country Foods in Anglesey that caused a leak of ammonia into the atmosphere.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and nearby householders were urged to stay indoors and keep their windows locked. The contractors suffered ‘minor injuries’ and have since been released from hospital.
North Wales Police and the North Wales Fire & Rescue Service have launched an investigation into the cause of the incident, which is not believed to be suspicious.
Managers at the plant, which employs around 300 staff, are understood to have informed Environment Agency Wales and the Health & Safety Executive.
A fire service spokeswoman said: “Emergency services were called at 2.23pm on Saturday to a report of a fire in an industrial building on Lon Groes, Gaerwen Industrial Estate, Anglesey. Fire crews from Llangefni, Bangor and Holyhead attended the incident and dealt with a minor explosion.”
An Environment Agency Wales spokeswoman added: “We were advised that the situation was being contained on site and were satisfied that there was no wider environmental impact.”
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