Updated | Workers inadvertently mix magnesium phosphide with water

The Police and members of the Civil Protection Department evacuated a factory in Mriehel over fears of chemical reaction, the police’s communications office told MaltaToday.

The area close to the Vernon factory was also evacuated.

Workers from the Hazmat unit were called in to secure the area and dispose of toxic material which two employees inadvertently threw away in a tank, and added water to it.

Albert Tabone, Hazmat unit officer in charge, explained that the company uses magnesium phosphide as part of their storage process. Four packets which were almost empty were thrown away in a tank. Two of the workers, inadvertently, threw water in the tank, unaware that mixing magnesium phosphide with water releases toxic gases.

The reaction between the chemical and the water resulted in ‘steam’, and the workers threw in more water. Members of the Civil Protection Department were called in, but were not informed of what had been thrown inside the tank, releasing more steam when water was thrown in. The CPD immediately realised what happened and called in the Hazmat unit.

The unit buried the contents of the tank with sand to contain the release of the gases and was sealed for disposal. The factory employees were taken to the clinic for medical examination.

“The amount of gas release was minimal and it the area wasn’t affected,” Tabone explained.