Oxfordshire Health Centre Evacuated

A chemical leak at a laboratory has raised serious questions that authorities must work quickly to answer, a lawyer at Irwin Mitchell has suggested.

Windrush Health Centre in Witney, Oxfordshire, was evacuated after it was reported to emergency services that a strong smell of ammonia was emanating from a fridge in the complex.

According to the BBC, specialist crews ventilated the building and removed the fridge, while three people were assessed by paramedics at the scene. The centre opened two hours later.

David Urpeth, national head of workplace injuries at Irwin Mitchell, said: “While it is welcome news that no one was hurt in this incident, it is clear that there are issues for the authorities involved to deal with.

“One of the most notable ones relates to the fridge and whether the cause of the chemical leak could be linked to a fault. This needs to be clarified quickly as it is likely that similar items are used in other laboratories, which means other workers may be at potential risk.

“Lessons must be learnt to ensure that no other people face such problems in the future.”