Brighton fire crews tackle university ‘chemical spill’ in training exercise

Fire crews have been called to tackle a chemical spill at Brighton University with 20 people needing decontamination treatment.

But the drama being played out at the Huxley Building in Lewes Road is a training exercise running from 10am to 1pm today (Tuesday 10 July).

The 20 “casualties” – played by university staff – will act as if they have been poisoned by exposure to chemicals in a laboratory. They will be taken to decontamination tents.

Station Commander Graham Rudman, from Roedean Fire Station, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to exercise for this specific and specialist type of incident that occasionally the service is faced with.

“The particular benefits of Brighton University providing us with the use of their premises and having their staff role-play during a hazardous material incident provides the exercise with realism.

“It will be a relatively large incident with a number of elements that will test our procedures and ability to work with partners such as Brighton and Hove City Council, the ambulance service and other specialist units.”

Phil Thompson, the university’s safety adviser, said: “Chemical spills and decontamination incidents are extremely rare.

“However, it is useful to work with partners to test our emergency procedures to ensure that we are fully prepared.”

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said that there shouldn’t be any disruption and urged people living near by not to be alarmed by the sight of decontamination tents going up.

The university said that it was required by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to be prepared for this and other types of major incident.

It said that it worked regularly with the emergency services and partner health organisations to be able to co-ordinate responses to such situations.