Workers inhale fumes after ammonia leak at Shropshire abattoir
Two people were taken to hospital and others were treated at the scene after an ammonia leak at a Shropshire abattoir.
The Anglo Beef Products plant at Lower Hordley, near Ellesmere, was evacuated when the leak occurred in an enclosed refrigeration area.
Emergency services were called to the rural processing plant just after 10am today when a number of people were suspected to have inhaled ammonia.
Paramedics and a doctor attended to nine people on site and, after assessment two patients, a man and a woman, were treated for throat irritation and transported to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further assessment and observation. They were not believed to be seriously ill.
Seamus Banim, a spokesman for ABP UK said that the facility was evacuated as a precaution.
"The incident does not pose a threat to the surrounding area," he said.
He said that ABP Ellesmere was part of ABP UK and employs over 700 people near Hordley.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service service put is hazardous materials procedures into operation.
Hazmat operations manager, Neil Griffiths, said that fire crews from Oswestry, Ellesmere, Baschurch and Shrewsbury worked with the ambulance service and the safety team at APB during the four hour operation.
"The plant was in the process of being evacuated as we arrived," he said.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the plant and used positive pressure ventilation fans to disperse the leak.
"Our main task was to ensure there were no hazardous fumes within the plant before the employees could return to work," he said.
"Dealing with hazardous materials is one of our roles. We also gave advice to the team at ABP."
He said that the ammonia leak have been confined to the plant and there was no risk to anyone outside.
"No water was used to deal with the incident and so there is no risk to the local environment or watercourses."
