Army experts called in to dispose of lab chemicals
Department of education ordered destruction
A BOMB squad has carried out a controlled explosion at a Hinckley school.
Army bomb disposal experts were called to Hinckley Academy and John Cleveland Sixth Form centre just before Christmas following Government advice about a potentially hazardous chemical used in science labs across the country.
Education bosses were advised to check if they had old supplies of 2.4 dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) - sometimes used in chemistry lessons - last autumn by the Department of Education.
Experts warned the chemical can become dangerous if not stored correctly and allowed to dry out.
It is known to pose a risk of explosion by shock, friction or fire and is usually kept inside a larger container holding water.
As a result, controlled blasts were carried out at more than 600 schools in the UK between October and December, including four in Leicestershire - Hinckley Academy and John Cleveland Sixth Form Centre, Lutterworth Col- lege, Groby Community College and Ashby School.
The schools involved were revealed through a Freedom of Information request last week.
They were advised to check the chemical by the government advisory science service Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Services(CLEAPSS).
A spokesman for the Department for Education said: “We contacted schools last year to remind them of the importance of storing chemicals for practical science activities carefully.
“We’ve been working with the Armed Forces and the police to support schools with any necessary disposals.”
Dr David Kinnison, a chemical safety advisor, said schools “did exactly as they were instructed”.
He said: “As a safety professional, I would always err on the side of caution.
“Yes, there could have been possible other ways of dealing with this, however, the schools were presented with this advice.”
He added: “The positive is that a material which potentially could be unsafe was made safe, [and] the bomb disposal squads have gained some valuable experience.”