700 staff evacuated after chemical spill
A MAN escaped serious injury after exposure to a potentially deadly chemical at one of the region’s largest employers yesterday.
About 700 workers were evacuated from Oakey Beef Exports about 6.30am after a liquid ammonia leak at the facility.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services remained on scene more than nine hours yesterday conducting atmospheric testing and ventilating the cold storage room at the major facility after the leak.
Production was stopped for about four hours as the initial leak was identified and contained to the plate freezer conveyor belt room before workers in other sections were able to return to their shifts.
Oakey Beef Exports general manager Pat Gleeson said the impact on production had been minimal, and the priority was staff safety.
“We’ve lost about four hours of production but that’s minimal when you can get everyone out of here unscathed,” Mr Gleeson told The Chronicle yesterday.
“It was contained to the plate freezer and isolated quite quickly by our guys.
“All we’ll lose if the production.”
Mr Gleeson said there was no risk to existing beef supplies in the cold storage because of the internal protocols and leak being quickly contained.
Queensland Ambulance paramedics were on standby at the incident most of the day along with QFES crews.
Paramedics administered first aid to one man who was exposed to the chemical but he did not require further treatment in hospital.
While the leak was contained by 10am, QFES continued ventilating the facility until after 4pm in an effort to return atmosphere readings to safe levels.