Workers Rescued From Silo

Shortly after midday today Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service responded to a report of three workers that had collapsed within a silo containing waste food. Upon arrival it became apparent that all three employees were still inside the 20 foot high steel vessel.

Fire-fighters wearing breathing apparatus entered a trap door in the side of the silo and quickly rescued all three of the workers, emergency first aid was administered on scene and all three casualties were revived with Oxygen and transported to Great Western Hospital for treatment.

The incident at the Kingshill Recycling plant on the A419 near Cricklade was thought to be caused by a deficiency of Oxygen; the result of fermentation of the waste within the Silo. Station Manager Pete Townsend, the HAZMAT advisor for the Fire & Rescue Service, said that the bacteria consumes oxygen as it feeds and multiplies and carbon dioxide (an asphyxiant gas) is generated as a bi-product. Mr Townsend explained that a worker was repairing a stirring paddle inside the silo when he blacked out and collapsed, two of his colleagues went to his aid and suffered the same fate. “Carbon dioxide is colourless and odourless and the workers would have had no warning of the potentially fatal situation they were in”.

The incident attracted the attendance of five fire appliances, numerous ambulances and the Police helicopter was used to transport specialist air sampling equipment.

It is anticipated that the rescued workers will make a full recovery and should suffer no long term ill effects from their experience.

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