DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — Dayton sewer maintenance and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency officials contained a chemical spill Monday, June 23, and prevented about 1,800 gallons of a sodium hydroxide solution from reaching the Great Miami River.

The caustic chemical spilled out of a semi-tanker truck that was delivering it to Hohman

Plating and Manufacturing, 814 Hillrose Ave., at about 9 a.m.

The truck's driver, who was not wearing protective gear, suffered second-degree burns to his face and upper body. He was standing at the rear of the truck. The chemical spewed from the truck's connection to a hose that led to a tank in the factory, Dayton District Fire Chief Ron Fleming said.

The driver was taken to Miami Valley Hospital suffering from non-life threatening injuries, Fleming said.

Sodium hydroxide is used as a cleaning or stripping agent in metal plating.

Dale Farmer, an emergency response coordinator for OEPA, said, "It's a hazardous spill, so there will be some penalties, but we don't know how much."

Fleming said the spill was moderate. "We contained it pretty quickly."

The truck belongs to DistTech, a hazardous chemical transportation company based in Newbury, Ohio. A company spokesman could not be reached for comment.

The spill entered storm sewers and officials thought it might reach the river at Deeds Park, Farmer said. Officials tested the water where it empties out at the park and found normal levels of chemicals in the water.

The drain was blocked to prevent any of the sodium hydroxide from the river. Crews put down sand and used a large vacuum to remove most of the chemical from the sewer, Farmer said.

The heavier-than-water chemical could kill aquatic animals, Farmer said.