An Environmental Protection Agency investigation into a chlorine spill at the Chemifloc manufacturing facility in Shannon last December has found that the company stored materials incorrectly and wasn’t fully compliant with the conditions of its licence.
Eight people were hospitalised following the incident at the plant in the Smithstown Industrial Estate on December 20 and it took several weeks before they were able to return to work.
The EPA report also criticised the labelling system for some of the acids and confirmed that the chlorine gas emissions extended beyond the boundary of the Chemifloc site, affecting nearby businesses.
A large portion of the industrial estate was evacuated and a number of Chemifloc staff had to be hosed down as a decontamination precaution after the incident, while a radio alert went out to motorists to close their windows while driving on nearby roads.
People living and working in Shannon and some of the families of injured workers were extremely angry that the plant was open and operating the following day with apparently no new safety measures in place.
Chemifloc was prosecuted at the Clare Circuit Court on July 22, 2009 when a jury found the company guilty of causing or permitting emissions to the atmosphere at the Smithstown Industrial Estate on May 24, 2007.
Judge Seán ỚDonnabháin heard details of the offence and imposed a fine of €5,000 with a further €5,000 awarded in expenses to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Established in 1981, Chemifloc is the largest Irish manufacturer of chemicals used in water treatment plants which it delivers to its customers – mainly local authorities – in the 32 counties.
The company also has a 40,000 sq. ft. dedicated storage facility in Foynes where it receives and stores the raw materials used in production. Chemifloc counts all the Irish local authorities among its extensive list of customers and has been retained by the Health Service Executive (HSE) since 1991 to supply fluoride to all drinking water plants in the country.
Headquartered in Shannon, the privately-owned, indigenous company employs 40 people.
