Four hurt as cloud of toxic gas escapes from chemical plant

FOUR people were hurt, one seriously, when a cloud of toxic gas escaped from a chemical plant near Grimsby.

The workers suffered burns and toxic inhalation injuries when two tonnes of titanium tetrachloride were released at the Cristal Global site in Stallingborough, North East Lincolnshire, at 12.10am yesterday.

They were taken to Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, although one was later transferred to the specialist burns unit at Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield. His condition was last night described as “critical but stable”.

Two of the men were allowed home after treatment, while a third was kept in for observation.

Amid fears that the fumes – described as “extremely dangerous” by firefighters – could cause widespread harm, shipping was suspended as the cloud headed out into the River Humber. A no-fly zone was also established in the area until the gas dispersed.

One ship, the Baltic Bright, passed through the cloud as it steamed into the Humber and was diverted to Immingham as a precaution. Its 12 crew were assessed by medical staff on board and were found not to have been harmed.

Firefighters responding to reports of an explosion laid a blanket of foam across the site in a bid to contain the incident.

Residents on both banks of the Humber were urged to keep windows and doors shut, but some complained that they had not heard warning sirens at the site, although the company said they had been activated.

One woman who lives close to the plant said: “I sleep with my windows wide open so I would have been dead if the cloud had come this way.”

The authorities sought to calm public concerns as the emergency response was scaled down yesterday afternoon.

The director of the North Yorkshire and the Humber Health Protection Unit, Dr Autilia Newton, said: “A release took place overnight and there is unlikely to be any significant ongoing health risk to the public as the wind has been blowing towards the Humber, away from members of the public.

“However, if anyone does think that they have been exposed to the gas and is now feeling unwell they are advised to contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for advice.”

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating and dispatched two inspectors to the site yesterday morning.

Up to 100 staff are believed to have been at the plant at the time.

The company said the site would remain closed until it was satisfied it was safe to restart operations.

A spokesman said the main concern was for the injured men and their families.

“We are in close touch with the families of the injured men and are supporting them in every way we can,” he said.

“Members of our on-site occupational health team are currently with them.

“Our thoughts and our focus are primarily with our injured colleagues at this time, but we are also working with the emergency services to prepare the area for a complete investigation as to the cause of the incident.”

The company said the leak occurred when a pressurised container ruptured.

A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said: “The cause of the incident is still to be determined and HSE staff are likely to be at the site throughout the weekend.

“The area around the site has since been made safe and poses no danger to the nearby community."”

Cristal Global, which employs more than 3,800 people worldwide, is the world’s second-largest producer of titanium dioxide and a leading producer of titanium chemicals.

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