Chlorine gas release
STORM Doris caused a ‘minor’ release of chlorine at a Runcorn chemical site.
Inovyn said no gas was detected off site and there was no risk to residents and no injuries to staff.
The company, an Ineos subsidiary, deployed detection teams on Thursday after the storm caused a power cut leading to the shut down of industrial units and switching plants to operating in safe mode.
An Inovyn spokesman quashed rumours that residents had been asked to stay indoors because of a ‘chlorine leak’.
He said the company had not issued shelter advice nor sounded the Operation Cloudburst alarms. Staff restored power. The neighbouring Vynova site, part of the International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), said it also experienced a power cut and had put plants in safe mode.
An Inovyn spokeswoman confirmed on Friday that a chlorine leak had occurred.
She said: “During the disruption to power supplies at the Runcorn Site caused by adverse ● weather, there was a minor on site emission of chlorine gas within the site boundary caused by the emergency shutdown of the plants.
“Gas detection officers deployed as a precautionary measure, detected no concentration of chlorine gas off site.
“There were no injuries as a result and at no point was there any risk to people off site.”
In the company’s statement last Thursday after the power cut, Inovyn’s spokesman said: “Runcorn site has been subject to a significant loss of power this morning, as a result of the adverse weather.
“The various Inovyn production units on site shut down as per design, and the on-site emergency response plan has been activated.
“As per this emergency plan, and as a precautionary measure, gas detection officers were deployed both on site and outside of the site boundary.
“No emissions were detected off-site.
“The Inovyn plants are now operating in safe mode, whilst the on-site team works to restore power and return to normal operation.”