Banham Poultry workers treated after Norfolk chicken plant chemical leak

Eleven people were taken to hospital after a chemical leak at a chicken processing factory today (August 4).
Ambulance crews went to Banham Poultry, in Attleborough, Norfolk, just after 9:30am after reports one person was having breathing difficulties.
The East of England Ambulance Service said it treated 14 patients at the scene, with 11 transferred to hospital for “further assessment”.
Norfolk Fire Service said the leak was made safe by 1.30pm.
It said it sent five crews to the factory, which supplies chicken products to supermarkets, and “helped to minimise exposure and make the area safe”.
In a statement, Blaine van Rensburg, managing director at the meat processing plant, said efforts to establish the cause of the leak were ongoing.
“The exact cause is unknown at this stage but is reported to be a reaction between cleaning chemicals,” he said. “This is extremely unlikely as these solutions are used daily, without incident.”