Company yesterday.

The accident occurred shortly after noon when Belco staff spilled a concentrated acid used to clean carbon from generators at the Serpentine Road, Pembroke plant.

They initially used baking soda to contain the spill, but left the scene for their safety until the Fire Service arrived.

Fire Service Spokesman Lt. Jon Thompson said the Eastern Power Station, where the spill occurred, had been evacuated when firefighters in four trucks, including the Emergency Support Vehicle, arrived.

A Government analyst attended the accident to check on the clean up as well.

Fire fighters managed to neutralise the acid and set up a decontamination area to wash their specially made protective suits and ventilated the basement area.

Belco spokeswoman Linda Smith said in her ten years of working for the company nothing like the spill had occurred.

She added that although the staff were trained in safety and spill procedures, they did not have the necessary protective gear for dealing with acid.