Staffordshire Fire and Rescue were alerted to a chemical leak at 1.31pm yesterday (Tuesday 27 November) at the Flashbrook Road site.
Crews from Stafford, Gnosall, Stone, Sandyford and Hanley attended the incident, along with five appliances and two specialist units – a decontamination unit and an environment unit.
The fire and rescue service said two firefighters and two members of the ambulance service’s Hazardous Area Response Team wearing gas-tight suits were inspecting the affected area.
Firefighters worked with the affected employees of the company to ensure it could carry on with its business as soon as possible.
Responded to the scene
The West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed it was called to reports of a chemical incident at Premier Foods at about 1.50pm.
An ambulance service spokesman told Food Manufacture: “A number of ambulance resources responded to the scene, including the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team, a critical care car from Midlands Air Ambulance, an ambulance and several paramedic officers.
“A total of eight patients were assessed and treated by ambulance staff on scene for minor conditions. All eight did not require hospital treatment and were discharged on scene.”
Food Manufacture has approached Premier Foods for a comment.
Meanwhile, last month, two men were found dead close to a poultry factory in Norfolk, less than a day after it announced it was seeking buyers for the business.