UPDATE WEDNESDAY:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Baxters Concrete remains evacuated as CFA crews work to render a chemical incident safe.
Two chemicals mixed together in a large plastic tank at the Moloney Drive business about 11.45am on Tuesday, causing staff to evacuate.
A contractor felt nauseous and spent six or seven hours in hospital.
CFA Wodonga officer in charge Ash Mills said there was no danger to the community, but firefighters were taking every precaution to ensure the incident was managed safely.
"We've got two chemicals which are not behaving in the way they should," he said.
"Industrial chemists from the company are involved, liaising with our scientific officer.
"There's really no threat at the moment.
"We're taking every precaution possible to make sure we don't have an incident that could provide a level of concern to the community."
Mr Mills said things were "progressing really well" at the site, which remains closed.
"Anything dangerous or toxic is contained," he said.
"We're just working on rendering it all inert, which we've made significant progress on.
"What we're dealing with is extremely rare.
"You just don't see these things happening with these types of chemicals.
"I don't expect it will give us any grief at all, but it's taken very seriously."
TUESDAY: Paramedics were called to Baxters Concrete in Wodonga on Tuesday after a chemical incident at the factory.
The CFA has confirmed that staff reported smelling chemical fumes at 11.43am.
Three CFA vehicles were on the scene at Moloney Drive including specialist hazmat crews with firefighters in protective suits to investigate the incident.
They reported that chlorine gas was being emitted from the factory.
The CFA declared the incident safe at about 4.30pm, but firefighters were expected to be at the scene for some time to clean up.
Work Safe has confirmed it is investigating the incident.
IN OTHER NEWS: