Statement released by Clare County Council at 9.00pm: Clare County Fire & Rescue Service has confirmed that a chemical incident at the Chemifloc Plant, Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shannon, Co. Clare has been contained. Clare Chief Fire Officer Adrian Kelly, on the advice of Chemifloc chemists, also confirmed that a chemical reaction causing a gas emission at plant shortly before 4.45 p.m. today (Thursday, 20 December 2012) does not pose any public health risk. Eight units of the fire brigade from Shannon and Ennis attended the incident. The incident has now been closed down by the Emergency Services.
Limerick Post wrote: Chemifloc blamed for Shannon chemical spill admin | February 7, 2013 An Environmental Protection Agency investigation into a chlorine spill at the Chemifloc manufacturing facility in Shannon last December has found that the company stored materials incorrectly and wasn’t fully compliant with the conditions of its licence. Eight people were hospitalised following the incident at the plant in the Smithstown Industrial Estate on December 20 and it took several weeks before they were able to return to work. The EPA report also criticised the labelling system for some of the acids and confirmed that the chlorine gas emissions extended beyond the boundary of the Chemifloc site, affecting nearby businesses. A large portion of the industrial estate was evacuated and a number of Chemifloc staff had to be hosed down as a decontamination precaution after the incident, while a radio alert went out to motorists to close their windows while driving on nearby roads. People living and working in Shannon and some of the families of injured workers were extremely angry that the plant was open and operating the following day with apparently no new safety measures in place. Chemifloc was prosecuted at the Clare Circuit Court on July 22, 2009 when a jury found the company guilty of causing or permitting emissions to the atmosphere at the Smithstown Industrial Estate on May 24, 2007.Judge Seán ỚDonnabháin heard details of the offence and imposed a fine of €5,000 with a further €5,000 awarded in expenses to the Environmental Protection Agency. Established in 1981, Chemifloc is the largest Irish manufacturer of chemicals used in water treatment plants which it delivers to its customers – mainly local authorities – in the 32 counties. The company also has a 40,000 sq. ft. dedicated storage facility in Foynes where it receives and stores the raw materials used in production. Chemifloc counts all the Irish local authorities among its extensive list of customers and has been retained by the Health Service Executive (HSE) since 1991 to supply fluoride to all drinking water plants in the country. Headquartered in Shannon, the privately-owned, indigenous company employs 40 people.
RTE News wrote: Explosive material made safe in Shannon An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has removed unstable explosive material from a facility in Co Clare. The garda-led operation got under way at 7am at the company in the Smithstown Industrial Estate in Shannon. Units of the Fire Brigade from Shannon along with a HSE ambulance were also requested to attend the incident as a precaution. Gardaí sealed-off an area around the plant and operated a rolling road block as army vehicle removed several barrels to a quarry in Bunratty five kilometres away. Traffic on the N18 was brought to a standstill for a short time to facilitate a secure route to the quarry for the army and emergency services vehicles. The operation in Shannon was completed by 9am while the last army vehicles left the quarry shortly before noon. Gardaí have confirmed that the material was removed for safe disposal after concern had been expressed about its integrity
