Note the novel use of a helicopter to disperse the
gas cloud!!
Officials at Kinleith pulp and paper mill near Tokoroa have played
down yesterday's chlorine gas leak which put emergency services on high
alert.
Emergency workers and police have launched an investigation into the
cause of the chemical spill at the Carter Holt Harvey-owned mill which
led to a gas cloud over the area. At least one road was closed after
the alarm was sounded but initial fears that a man walking his dog in
the area could be in danger were soon allayed.
"The evolving size of the gas plume caused immediate concern and
emergency services were deployed from the Tokoroa and Kinleith fire
brigades, Tokoroa police and district council staff, with about 30 personnel
involved," Detective Sergeant Greg Standen said.
A helicopter was called to help disperse the plume into the atmosphere.
Kinleith environmental health safety and risk manager said the chemical
leak posed no danger to the public. Part of the mill's chemical plant
was in the process of being shut down so a small liquor leak could be
cleaned up when an "aberration" in a routine gas venting operation
occurred, he said.
"It's a relief vent that we occasionally discharge through. It
does not happen very often...about once or twice a year," he said.
The unexpectedly high amount of chlorine gas discharged was not helped
by the calm weather conditions, which did not immediately dissipate
it.
"You would have been able to smell it, but it was not in a great
enough concentration to be able to do anyone any harm...the emergency
services took a precautionary approach."
Kinleith site delegates chairman said workers at the mill were not
fazed by the alert. "The wind was blowing it off the site. Most
of the guys were at the evacuation post by then anyway," he said. |
