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| Chemical powder affects workers | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Two men contaminated with chemical powder which leaked from a drum behind some Oxfordshire shops have been taken to hospital, the fire service said. | Two men contaminated with chemical powder which leaked from a drum behind some Oxfordshire shops have been taken to hospital, the fire service said. |
| The cleaners began vomiting, itching and suffering from blistering skin following the incident in Banbury. | The cleaners began vomiting, itching and suffering from blistering skin following the incident in Banbury. |
| They came into contact with a 45 gallon barrel of waste products from the Specsavers Opticians, Bridge Street. | |
| The firm said it was investigating thoroughly with Oxfordshire fire service and Cherwell District Council. | |
| "We are aware of the situation and are investigating," a spokesperson said. | |
| "Specsavers Opticians treats an incident like this very seriously." | |
| A cordon remains in place but there is no immediate danger to the public. | A cordon remains in place but there is no immediate danger to the public. |
| The emergency services were alerted at about 0915 GMT on Wednesday. | The emergency services were alerted at about 0915 GMT on Wednesday. |
| We had to ensure that the people of Banbury were as safe as they could be so we threw a cordon around the area Mike Smythe, deputy chief fire officer | We had to ensure that the people of Banbury were as safe as they could be so we threw a cordon around the area Mike Smythe, deputy chief fire officer |
| Earlier Mike Smythe, deputy chief fire officer for Oxfordshire, told BBC News: "We just had two of our specialist officers in gas-tight suits enter the area, they've made tests of the substance. | |
| "We are confident, at the moment, that the substance is in fact inert but we do need to finish off those tests results." | "We are confident, at the moment, that the substance is in fact inert but we do need to finish off those tests results." |
| When the fire crews from Banbury arrived at the scene they discovered a small chemical spillage with the cleaning staff showing symptoms. | When the fire crews from Banbury arrived at the scene they discovered a small chemical spillage with the cleaning staff showing symptoms. |
| "One was violently ill - vomiting - and the other started to complain of itchy hands," Mr Smythe said. | |
| Decontamination process | Decontamination process |
| "The barrel, as we understand it, contains waste products from the manufacturer of lenses for spectacles - basically as they shave the ends off the lenses so that they fit the frame, a quantity of white powder is produced. | "The barrel, as we understand it, contains waste products from the manufacturer of lenses for spectacles - basically as they shave the ends off the lenses so that they fit the frame, a quantity of white powder is produced. |
| The powder is "common with all spectacle manufacturers across the country and that chemical is inert - plastic basically". | The powder is "common with all spectacle manufacturers across the country and that chemical is inert - plastic basically". |
| He said they had to ensure that the people were safe and so threw a cordon around the area to "stop people entering the zone and spreading the contamination further". | |
| The decontamination process was carried out by the Chemical Biological Radioactive and Nuclear Decontamination unit and specialist staff from South Central Ambulance service. | The decontamination process was carried out by the Chemical Biological Radioactive and Nuclear Decontamination unit and specialist staff from South Central Ambulance service. |
| The two men were washed down with warm water in a decontamination tent before their clothing was removed. | The two men were washed down with warm water in a decontamination tent before their clothing was removed. |
| They were then put into sterile white paper suits before being sent to Horton Hospital, a spokeswoman said. | They were then put into sterile white paper suits before being sent to Horton Hospital, a spokeswoman said. |
| The clothing will then be taken away for forensic examination, she added. | The clothing will then be taken away for forensic examination, she added. |