Poolbeg incident to be raised at meeting

THE incident at the Poolbeg Incinerator that left a number of employees in need of medical attention last week will be raised at a meeting of Dublin city councillors this week.

Cllr Mannix Flynn (Ind) said the troubling development at the new waste incinerator will be top of the agena when the South East Area Committee meets.

“This has happened at a facility that has only been in operation for a couple of weeks,” he said.

“I’m putting this on top of the list of questions I will be raising at the meeting as I believe it signals a cause for real fear for local residents as well as for the rest of the city.”

A total of 11 workers were hospitalised last Wednesday night as the incident forced the temporary closure of the plant.

Dublin Waste to Energy Ltd said a small amount of lime that was released during testing converted into “a cloud” that rose inside the incinerator’s flue-gas treatment area where 30 construction workers were taking down scaffolding.

Eleven of the workers subsequently felt unwell and attended St Vincent’s University Hospital.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has launched an investigation into the incident it described as an “uncontrolled release” and a “dangerous occurrence”.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which visited the plant, said it was satisfied there was no danger to the public.

However, local Fianna Fáil councillor, Frank Kennedy, said that throughout the campaign against the development of the Poolbeg Incinerator project, the concerns over emissions from incinerators and the quality of testing were consistently raised by the local community.

“It is hugely disappointing that it appears that less than a few weeks into operations at the plant, a dangerous health and safety incident has occurred,” he said. 

“The Health and Safety Authority must carry out a complete investigation to establish both the cause and also to determine the potential dangers posed for local residents.

“I anticipate that the US waste firm Covanta, responsible for the management of the Poolbeg site, will urgently move to introduce measures to protect the safety and health of locals in Sandymount and Ringsend.”

On Friday morning, SIPTU representatives visited the site where organiser Jim Sheridan expressed concern for the health and safety of union members and workers.

“SIPTU also ensured that construction workers on site who were sent home from work following the incident will not incur any loss of earnings,” the union added.