Several people have been reported injured, including one person with serious burns, following a chemical release today at an industrial site at Seal Sands, Teesside.
The site, operated by BASF plc, produces chemicals used in the manufacture of plastics. Inspectors from HSE's Hazardous Installations Directorate are on site, together with an inspector from the Environment Agency, and an investigation has commenced.
The site is subject to the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 1999, as amended in 2005. The Regulations are enforced jointly by HSE and the Environment Agency.