An accident occurred on Friday morning during maintenance work at a company in Trieben, Upper Styria: approximately 9,000 liters of corrosive nitric acid escaped! In the afternoon, more than 200 firefighters were busy with delicate tasks.
The window day was to be used for maintenance work in the company, but an accident happened: a piece of metal fell on the cap of a tank storing nitric acid and damaged it – about 9,000 liters of liquid leaked out!
Some of it ended up in a retention basin, the rest must now be collected, bound and removed by the fire brigade. A dangerous and lengthy operation, reports spokesman Christoph Schlüßlmayr of the local fire brigade.
220 fire brigade members employed
Early on Friday afternoon, no fewer than 18 fire brigades with approximately 220 men were present, including specialists from the hazardous substances bases in Liezen, Leoben, Knittelfeld and Kapfenberg. They must continue with heavy respiratory protection and full body suits. After use, they are showered and the nitric acid must be specifically removed.
“There is no danger to people in the area,” Schlüßlmayr emphasizes. Everything is limited to the company premises. There were hardly any staff present; the maintenance workers quickly managed to get to safety. The fire brigade will probably be busy for the rest of the day.
Source: Krone
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