Worker hurt in acid explosion

Health and Safety Executive probe into bus lane extension incident

HEALTH and safety bosses are investigating after battery acid suddenly exploded in a worker’s face before he was rushed to hospital.

A maintenance engineer, aged in his 40s, suffered the industrial accident while working on machinery as part of Hampshire County Council’s bus lane extension scheme.

The government’s Health and Safety Executive has been informed of the incident and are now conducting enquiries into the matter.

Emergency crews rushed to Forest Way near Gosport Leisure Centre just after 10am on Monday to help the injured man.

Efforts to wash off the acid from the engineer’s face were frantically made before he was taken to hospital by paramedics.

Police, who attended the scene, were looking into the hazmat incident.

A police spokesman said: ‘We were called to reports of an industrial accident on Forest Way.

‘It was reported that a water pump battery exploded, causing injuries to a man working at the site.

‘The man was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital for treatment. The Health and Safety Executive have been informed.’

Three engines from Gosport Fire Station attended before helping to ‘wash the man down’. Alex Hay, crew manager, said: ‘An engineer was needed to come out and have a look some equipment when battery acid somehow exploded in his face.’

The bus extension scheme, known as the Eclipse Busway, provides a priority public transport route connecting Fareham north to Gosport south.

It is now being extended 1km south to Rowner Road and will follow the disused railway corridor from Tichborne Way / Hutfield Link.

Site offices and access at Gosport Leisure Centre, with temporary fencing, parking, offices and associated welfare facilities, are currently set-up.