A toxic leak at a chemical factory in Teesside on 4 January 2007, left 37 people injured. All the casualties suffered burns, skin irritation and breathing difficulties at the BASF site in Seal Sands near Billingham, which produces chemicals for the production of acrylic, nylon fibres and nylon plastics for clothing, carpets, domestic goods and the engineering and motor industries. Of the 17 people taken to hospital, one had serious burns, and the remaining casualties were treated by a mobile decontamination unit and discharged. The chemical involved was hexamethylenediamine (HMD), of which 4.5 tonnes had leaked from a tank. HMD is commonly used in the manufacture of a wide range of plastics, and is corrosive and hazardous in high concentrations.
A BASF spokesman said, "The cause of the incident has not yet been identified and an investigation will be initiated and will involve the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency." The Agency are currently examining whether the chemical could have entered the water system, while the Hazardous Installations Directorate North East department of the HSE, are looking into the management systems used in running the site and the plant itself. The site is subject to control under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations SI 1999/743 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations SI 2002/2677.
The investigation could take several weeks.
