100-200L of copper chrome arsenate spilled on Somerville Rd, Sunshine West
A quick-thinking truck driver has managed to help stop a poisonous chemical from entering Melbourne’s water system before firefighters arrived to finish the job.
West
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A potentially deadly chemical spill in Melbourne’s west was thwarted by a quick-thinking truck driver who managed to stop the poison from entering a nearby drain.
Up to 200L of copper chrome arsenate — used to treat wood — spilled from the container of a truck on Somerville Rd in Sunshine West at 11.15am on Friday.
Sources at the scene said the driver noticed the truck’s mudflap was yellow rather than white and immediately pulled over.
Jumping out of his cabin, the truckie — a contractor for Arch Wood Protection — raced to cover nearby gutters and drains.
FRV Commander Callum Donoghue told the Herald Sun it was the driver’s quick thinking that stopped the dangerous chemical from getting into the waterways, including the nearby Kororoit Creek.
“He did an amazing job,” Mr Donoghue said.
The driver, who asked not to be named, told the Herald Sun he was relieved to hear the FRV was happy with his quick actions.
“I was really worried about it and what could have happened,” he said.
Specialist fireys in fully encapsulated hazmat clothing used other chemicals to bring down the PH levels in the toxic liquid and were able to prevent any spillage from entering drains.
A number of buildings were evacuated as a result of the spill and Somerville Rd was closed to traffic.
Mr Donoghue noted while the substance was less dangerous than arsenic — which authorities initially reported was what had spilled — if humans touched it would be “nasty”.
Crews were yesterday expected to be on scene until at least 7pm.
An Environmental Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) spokesman said it was aware of the incident but FRV was the chief agency responding on Friday.
Authorities will investigate whether one of the vats holding the copper chrome arsenate was not sealed properly, the Herald Sun was told.
Meanwhile, a WorkSafe spokesperson said the safety authority was aware of the situation and would “determine if futher action was required”.
In a statement, an Ambulance Victoria spokesman said one person had been assessed at the scene but was not taken to hospital.
They remained at the scene for health monitoring.
No health warning was issued on Friday afternoon.
Copper chrome arsenate is a water-borne solution of up to 25 per cent copper, up to 45 per cent chromium and up to 37 per cent arsenic, according to the NSW EPA website.
It is used to treat timber to make it highly resistant to pests and funghi.
Arch Wood Protection was contacted for comment.
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