Update: Police give all-clear at Pine Hill Dairy

Police have given the all-clear following a chemical spill at the Pine Hill Dairy (PHD), Pine, St Michael.

At 9:30 p.m., Acting Assistant Superintendent of Police Trevor Blackman said the situation had been brought under control.

“That situation was brought under control about 20:55 hours where the area that would have been affected at the Pine Hill Dairy was accessed and the valves shut off. The all-clear was subsequently given at 21:30 hours in relation to that situation,” he said.

Blackman disclosed that there “was an ammonium leak at the plant,” but said police were still awaiting further details.

He however stressed that there were “no reports of illness or injury in relation to the situation.”

Around 5:45 p.m. staff at the dairy had to be evacuated, as emergency personnel and other officials rushed to respond to what the Barbados Fire Service deemed as a hazardous material (haz mat) situation.

Residents in the Pine were also notified of the situation and police closed off several roads including the Barrow, Alleyne and Cummins Highway and Pine East West road.

Blackman could not say how residents were affected but noted that “officers working on Pine East West road were slightly affected by the substance in the air.”

Noting that the ammonium leak at the PHD plant was the first of its kind, he said it was a reminder that the country always had to be on its guard.

“We have got to be prepared in order to deal with any eventuality that could present itself,” the senior police said.