Investigation begins (From Barry And District News)

Investigation begins

DOW Corning has begun a detailed examination into the cause of the release of hot silicone oil from the manufacturing site at Barry, on Wednesday, August 17.

The oil was sprayed with water, forming a white vapour which went off the site and across the eastern part of Barry.

Dow Corning immediately shut down the process. There was no fire and no-one at the site or in the community was injured.

As a precaution, and in line with the Vale of Glamorgan emergency plan, the site's emergency klaxon was sounded, indicating that residents should remain indoors and close all windows.

South Wales Police closed some roads in the Dinas Powys, Sully and Barry area and to inform residents in a number of streets by loud hailer.

Bulletins were also issued to local radio and TV stations advising them of the situation.

"Our immediate priority was the well-being of nearby residents and employees," said Margaret Matthews, Manager Director for Dow Corning in Barry.

"Our emergency re-sponse team worked with all the emergency services to stop the release.

"The vapour cloud was very visible against the night sky, so I can understand if local people felt concerned.

"I would like to assure them that the vapour was tiny droplets of silicone oil, and also steam created as a result of using water jets to douse and disperse the vapour.

"Now that the incident is over, we have started an internal inquiry to understand what happened, exactly and why."

The material released is called Syltherm, a silicone oil used at Dow Corning in Barry to heat parts of the production process. It is categorized under EC Directive 88/ 379/EEC as non-hazardous.

Martin Watkins, of Environment Agency Wales, which is conducting an investigation into the leak, said: "We will work with Dow Corning to find out why this happened, but we are satisfied that there will be no environmental impact."

After the leak, Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith met with Dow Corning's Managing Director, Margaret Matt-hews, to discuss public safety.

Following the meeting, John Smith said: "Dow Corning have re-assured me that the incident did not present any risk to life or limb to my constituents living in Barry.

"I expressed my concerns in relation to the lack of and apparently conflicting information given to residents at the time of the incident, many of whom were rightly worried.

"Dow Corning told me they undertake a comprehensive review of procedures, which will include their methods of keeping residents informed, in case of future incidents.