Baths worker 'lucky' to avoid serious injury in pool chemical spill

Published on Wednesday 24 February 2010 08:45

FIREFIGHTERS today said that a worker at a prestigious private members' swimming club who was exposed to a major chemical leak could have suffered "very serious injury" if emergency services had not acted so quickly.

The 32-year-old worker at the members-only Drumsheugh Baths Club, in the New Town, was left "struggling for breath" after he was exposed to chemical chlorine in the incident yesterday evening.

It is believed that a quantity of the potentially lethal substance was accidentally left on a floor in a private back room, although it is unclear how it got there.

More than 25 firefighters, four police officers and five ambulances rushed to the scene on Belford Road. All 12 club members using the pool facilities at the time were asked to leave as a precaution.

The employee affected was taken to the ERI, where his condition is reported as "not serious".

It is believed that the worker inhaled a quantity of the chemical chlorine, which is a toxic gas that irritates the respiratory system. Depending on the level of concentration, it can cause anything from coughing and vomiting to lung damage or death.

Firefighter manager Tom McGrath said that it was lucky that rescue services were on the scene within ten minutes.

He said: "The injuries turned out to be relatively minor, but consequences could have been a lot more serious if we hadn't acted so quickly. Chlorine is a dangerous substance and it can cause a lot of damage.

"After we arrived we used copious amounts of water to rinse out the plant room – where the chlorine was detected – until it was no longer contaminated."

A police spokesman added that an investigation was under way to ascertain how chemical chlorine ended up on the floor.

An ambulance spokesman said: "We attended an incident at Drumsheugh Baths Club at 5:15pm.

"Our specialist units stayed on the scene to ensure that there were no other casualties. This is normal procedure."

Wayne Davies, manager at the baths, said: "It is not a serious incident at all. We have the emergency services down on site as a precaution.

"No-one is seriously hurt or injured. There is one person involved in this incident."

The incident comes after Leith Waterworld was evacuated last Sunday. Customers had complained of stinging eyes, a shortness of breath and reddened skin. Staff ordered the pool – described as "mobbed" – to be cleared.

Last night Belford Road was closed to traffic as Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service inspected the building and other emergency services were on standby.

The street was blocked off at both ends to allow specialist teams room to move in with special equipment including chemical suits and decontamination equipment.

The 900-a-year club, founded in 1882, has individual cubicles for poolside changing and members' personal lockers. There are also two saunas, a hot tub, a gym and a lounge.

Most of the approximately 400 subscribing members have used the baths for most of their lives, with some families having memberships that span three generations.