Corrosive chemical spill has 6 dock workers hospitalised

Six Melbourne dock workers have been treated at hospital after a corrosive chemical spill.

The workers had been unloading a cargo ship on Friday evening in the city's industrial ports when a release valve on a giant cylinder was damaged, a fire department spokesman says.

About 200 litres of isopropylamine then pooled onto the ground, forcing the crew to flee to a safe distance.

The liquid, which is extremely flammable and causes severe burns and blindness, was cleaned up in about an hour.

Six workers who were experiencing chest pains and breathing problems were taken to hospital.

A crane and nearly two dozen firefighters were part of the effort to fix the cylinder and clean up the hazardous spill.

Source: Industry Search