Ammonia leak at Seychelles Breweries, no fatalities |29 April 2014

Twelve firefighters sped to the Seychelles Breweries Limited factory late yesterday morning following an ammonia leak at the Le Rocher-based brewery.

There were no loss of life but 12 persons were sent to the Seychelles Hospital for observation and nobody was admitted in hospital for ammonia-related symptoms.

Speaking to the media, the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency said it received a phone call at around 11.20am from the Seychelles Breweries informing them of the ammonia leak incident.
Two fire engines and nine men were sent to the scene and they were joined by three more men later on.

Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency spokesman Jones Madeleine said that as soon as they arrived on the scene they noticed a very thick cloud and immediately used water to suppress the ammonia to stop the propagation of the cloud and reduce it in size.

At the time there were people inside the factory, but they were all evacuated.
According to report, this is not the first time an incident of this sort has happened at the Seychelles Breweries factory.

Mr Madeleine explained that once the fire fighters were inside the factory they were helped by a technician to find the source of the leak and it took them some time as they needed to wait for safer conditions before entering the premises. The floor was then cleaned to make it safe.

Meanwhile, a communiqué from Seychelles Breweries Limited writes that the brewery evacuated its employees and people residing in the vicinity of the brewery following the ammonia leak from the plant.

“Our security, engineering and health and safety managers who are trained to deal with such incidents worked with the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency, the Seychelles Police and the departments of risk and disaster management (DRDM) to quickly contain the situation,” adds the communiqué.

The source of the leak has been identified and repaired, and necessary measures have been taken to ensure that the place is safe, continues the communiqué.

“Seychelles Breweries Limited takes its responsibilities in respect of the environment, health and safety seriously and as a precautionary measure 12 persons were sent to the hospital for observation and as we speak, nobody has been admitted in hospital for ammonia-related symptoms,” adds the communiqué.

The Seychelles Breweries Limited would like to thank the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency, the police, the DRDM, the Seychelles Hospital and its people for their quick response and for the level of professionalism that they all displayed to bring the situation under control.

Ammonia is extremely irritating, and may severely burn skin and eyes upon contact. When a leak occurs, a cloud of ammonia gas may cause burning and swelling of the air passages of the nose, throat and lungs. In some cases people may suffer permanent lung and eye problems as a result of exposure to high levels of ammonia. Its high concentration may cause swelling of the lungs and asphyxia.