WITH reference to the news report on the family and five firemen who were hospitalised after a cleaner used the wrong fluid (South China Morning Post, May 26).
I'd like to add that the firemen, not the workers, are the ones who need more training in the handling of such chemicals.
Also, I urge the Fire Department to provide proper training to fire officers on the correct use of breathing apparatus and chemical protection suits.
Ammonia is one of the most common industrial chemicals. It has been used as an industrial refrigerant for more than 120 years and is still the most popular industrial refrigerant in the world, though not in Hong Kong.
Ammonia solution in water is available to the public in chemical shops along with other industrial chemicals such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and caustic soda.
Most of these industrial chemicals are classified as 'toxic' under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance.
In fact, the ammonia solution that was used by the cleaner is much less toxic than any one of the three industrial chemicals named above.