ALOR SETAR, The Kedah Department of Environment (DOE) praised the quick action taken by a rubber glove factory in Sungei Petani in managing to overcome the spillage of raw materials while avoiding pollution to the waterways near the premises.

Its director, Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said her team received a report on the incident from People of Authority (OYB) from the plant who said that there was an overflow of liquid natural rubber that had been mixed with chemicals into the factory’s drain at 9 am.

“The spillage of raw material was caused by a leak in the raw material channel to the processing area. However, the factory has carried out spillage control and clean-up works as soon as the spillage was detected with the monitoring of the OYB who are trained factory staff and registered with the DOE,” she said in a statement here today.

“The Kedah DOE has been to the location and carried out monitoring of the clean-up works which was fully completed at 2.16 pm. Further inspection also found that there was
no pollution to the waterways in the nearby area.”

Sharifah Zakiah said the results (latex) of the clean-up works were channelled to the premises’ effluent treatment system and part of the chemical spillage was disposed of as scheduled waste to premises licenced by the DOE.

“The DOE is satisfied with the actions taken by the OYB and factory staff who reported the incident and took immediate action to prevent environmental pollution.

“We hope the OYB plays a role in the management of factory operations as well as in helping or advising the premises (authority) and industry in the aspect of pollution control, especially in self-compliance in the premises as a measure to prevent the occurrence of larger and more serious pollution,” she added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency