The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Grangemouth petrochemical plant evacuated due to gas leak.
Roads closed and children at schools kept indoors, but no injuries as union demands answers over incident
An investigation is to be held into a major incident at a petrochemical plant in Grangemouth.
The site, operated by Ineos, was partially evacuated after a leak on a pipe carrying ethylene gas prompted an emergency response at 12.15pm yesterday.
A spokesman for Ineos said: “We can confirm that there was an incident at our KG (Kinneil Gas) plant.
“Staff were evacuated from the immediate area and our well-practised emergency procedures were implemented, with the incident management team being mobilised.
“As a precautionary measure we asked Police Scotland to close the Wholeflats Road.
“Our on-site emergency response team and the emergency services are attending the incident.
“The incident was caused by a leak on a pipe carrying ethylene gas which has been identified and is being isolated.
“Measures were put in place to contain the leak in the immediate vicinity of the affected plant and as an ongoing precaution road closures remain in place.
“All of the people working in the area have been accounted for and there were no injuries.
“Other areas within the Grangemouth complex, including the adjacent refinery, were unaffected by the incident.
“A full investigation into the cause of the incident is under way,” he continued.
“The regulators have been kept fully informed throughout.”
At its peak, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent eight vehicles to the scene to support the energy giant’s on-site fire engines.
The ambulance service also sent a special operations response team.
Superintendent Brian Auld of Forth Valley Division said: “I would like to thank the local community of Grangemouth for their patience and co-operation while road closures are in place.”
Pupils at primary and secondary schools in Grangemouth were kept indoors over lunchtime as a precaution on request from the police, a Falkirk Council spokesman said.
Union Unite said the leak is “concerning” and underlines the need for Ineos to work with staff on safety.
The union claims the firm has taken steps to derecognise union members in sections of the plant.
Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said: “The union has written to the company requesting an urgent meeting in order to ascertain the cause.”
He added: “I urge the managers now to accept that cooperation is the best policy when it comes to ensuring that Grangemouth stays safe and drop this damaging and needless effort to break the union.
“The public needs to have confidence that this site is being run on cooperation, not confrontation.”