By Michael Newhouse
THE Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is investigating the toxic gas leak at Air Liquide’s Sunshine North factory, which shut down much of the area around Berkshire Rd this month.
EPA spokeswoman Ruth Ward confirmed that the authority was investigating the incident, in which hundreds of people had to be evacuated from the area and 15 people were treated for symptoms including burning eyes, nose and throat.
“We are investigating with the view to enforcement action,” Ms Ward said in a statement last week, although she would not elaborate on the progress of the investigation.
Much of the area was shut down after sulphur dioxide gas began to leak out of the international chemical company’s factory about 6am on Friday, 9 February.
WorkSafe spokesman Michael Birt confirmed WorkSafe was also investigating the incident.
He said WorkSafe was looking into “design maintenance, training and supervision issues”, and said the company had already developed revised management procedures in the wake of the leak.
