Body protection equipment required as specialists investigate mysterious gas reports
Drager CPS 5900
Protective Suit
Experts wearing body protection equipment were called to a Southampton industrial estate recently when workers took ill after a mysterious odour was reported.
Fire crews were in attendance and specialists in hazardous materials (hazmat) suits were required to check if the substance in the air was dangerous, the Southern Daily Echo reported.
Four people were reportedly ill after breathing in fumes at Nursling Industrial Estate at on Thursday (October 11th) morning.
A total of 46 people were evacuated from the building, allowing the experts to carry out a full inspection, before clearing the staff to return to work.
Redbridge, Totton, Romsey, the Special Equipment Unit and St Mary's fire services all provided assistance, with a Detection Identification and Monitoring vehicle from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service also in attendance.
Hazmat officer Howard Watts told the news provider: "The smell was believed to be coming from the mezzanine floor of the industrial unit.
Protective clothing is important when dealing with industrial chemicals or substances.
Frontline Safety provides a range of protective equipment on their website, which includes suits and cool vests from Drager and protective clothing from MSA.
"Following an evacuation, a specialist hazardous materials team of three entered the premises in gas protection equipment and found no hazardous substances. The team then vented the premises and stood down at 10.25 BST."
Meanwhile, a recent white paper from Analytical Technology claimed that 62 per cent of managers do not think that the gas detection equipment in their workplace is tested often enough
Posted by Shona Innes
