UPDATE: Valve explosion caused chlorine leak at water plant -MCW Minister
This was confirmed by Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool today, Friday February 9, 2013.
The Minister said he was reliably informed that the employee was not physically injured in the process but was rushed to Peebles Hospital, placed on oxygen, given other care and remained under observation before being discharged the same evening.
Hon. Vanterpool also said that management of the plant is conducting investigations to determine the root of the "unusual" explosion. It was the first of such occurrence at the desalination plant, he said.
According to Hon. Vanterpool, the leak did not pose any treat to the water for distribution during the process as the source of the explosion and leak was in open air and not connected to any water main or pipe. He also assured that work at the facility is fully back to normal and proactive safety steps are being tightened.
See previous article on February 6, 2013
Workers evacuated after Chlorine leak at Baugher’s Bay Desalination Plant
An emergency response took full gear on February 6, 2013 when it was discovered that there was a chlorine leak at the Baugher’s Bay Desalination Plant, which is being managed by Sage Utilities Holdings Ltd.
According to reports, the incident caused workers of the nearby Public Works Department to evacuate the building due to safety concerns.
Deputy Director of Public Works Department with responsibility for Architecture Mr Jose C. DeCastro confirmed that there was a chlorine leak at the plant and that it was considered very serious because of the likely effects it could have caused physically and otherwise to the workers.
He noted that when the leak was discovered an emergency response went into full effect and saw personnel from the Department for Disaster Management (DDM), Fire Department, Water and Sewerage Department and Public Works Department called in.
"We had to ensure that the workers were evacuated immediately but everything is back to normal," Mr DeCastro told Virgin Islands News Online. He said he could not give further details but was confident that the situation had been arrested and the workers were back to work.
Director of Water and Sewerage Department Ms Perline Scatliffe-Leonard, when contacted, said she was not in a position to speak on the incident at the time.
Sage Utilities Holdings Limited is a shareholding company of Ocean Conversion (BVI) Ltd. It was contracted by Government in November 2012 for the management and operation of the Baugher’s Bay Plant over the next six months effective December 1, 2012. The plant remains the property of the VI Government.
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