A MAN is being treated at Cork University Hospital for serious burns he suffered in a spill of heated cleaning fluid containing caustic soda at the Kerry Ingredients plant in Listowel on Monday evening.
he man was rushed to University Hospital Tralee by ambulance where he was transferred onto the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 115 outside the Emergency Department, for airlift to Cork.
His condition at the time of his transfer to Cork University Hospital was described as critical.
Listowel Fire Service was first on the scene minutes after the alarm was raised at around 7.45pm on Monday – within a section of the plant relatively close to the front of the complex.
The Kerryman understands that the man suffered the burns when a tank of heated cleaning liquid, spilled down on top of him.
Colleagues immediately rushed to his aid with the Listowel Fire Service treating the man with water gel in an effort to reduce the effects of the burning fluid on his skin on their arrival.
An ambulance from Tralee arrived shortly after 8pm.
The man suffered extensive and serious burns.
It is believed that the burns would have been even worse had it not been for the fact the caustic soda was diluted with boiling water and other cleaning agents in the mixture.
It is likely that it was the heat, rather than the chemical, that caused most of the injury.
The man, who is from Listowel and aged in his late 50s or early 60s, was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Tralee, where the ambulance was met by the rescue chopper.
The patient had to be intubated on arrival at Tralee as his airways began to close – having been breathing without relative difficulty at the scene minutes earlier.
The Kerryman understands the company is offering every assistance to the man’s family at this fraught time, with staff and management shocked and deeply saddened at the suffering of a valued colleague.
The Health and Safety Authority meanwhile launched an investigation after it was notified of the accident.
Employers are legally obliged to report all workplace injuries to the HSA.
Kerry Dairy Ireland, the Kerry Group subdivision that operates the plant released a statement on Tuesday morning saying the company’s ‘thoughts and prayers’ are with the stricken worker and his distraught family:
“Kerry Dairy Ireland can confirm that a workplace incident took place in its manufacturing facility in Listowel late last night which resulted in an employee sustaining injuries.
“The employee received immediate treatment on site and was then transferred to hospital.
“Kerry’s thoughts and prayers are with our colleague and his family during this difficult time.
“The company has launched an investigation into the cause of the incident and is supporting the Health and Safety Authority and other relevant authorities with their investigations.”
Mayor of Listowel Aoife Thornton said the town was shocked by the incident and that all are praying for the recovery of the employee.
“The worker and his family are in everyone’s hearts and minds following this serious accident,” Cllr Thornton (FG) said.
“We sincerely hope this poor man will recover as speedily and as well as can be expected,” the Mayor added.
