Residents of a city in central Japan have been instructed to not method a cat that fell right into a tank of hexavalent chromium and, authorities worry, may expose native individuals to the extremely poisonous chemical.
In a plot line that would have come from a sci-fi movie, an worker arriving for work on Monday morning on the Nomura Plating manufacturing facility in Fukuyama, Hiroshima prefecture, seen a path of yellow animal paw prints throughout the automobile park space.
Examination of safety digicam footage revealed {that a} cat had entered the manufacturing facility the earlier evening.
An official of the corporate informed Flash journal that the cat may need climbed onto a sheet protecting the tank storing the chemical, which is stored at a relentless 50 levels Celsius (122 levels Fahrenheit), earlier than falling in.
Hexavalent chromium is utilized in plating, however it’s a identified carcinogen. Swallowing the liquid could cause irritation of the throat and inside organs. The chemical additionally causes rashes on uncovered pores and skin and severe irritation to the eyes. Untreated, the chemical could cause blindness.
The firm reported the incident to police and the native authority, which have known as on residents to be looking out for any cat displaying uncommon behaviour however to not method or contact the animal.
The supervisor of the plant informed Flash that workers had obtained round a dozen cellphone calls from indignant native individuals berating the corporate for failing to take steps to maintain the cat away from the chemical.
The official, who was not recognized, mentioned, “We are taking the complaints seriously and will take thorough measures to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.”
Knock knock, who’s there: Japan revs up drive to guard cats hiding in vehicles
Knock knock, who’s there: Japan revs up drive to guard cats hiding in vehicles
The incident additionally sparked outrage on social media, with animal-lovers accusing the corporate of failing to take the suitable precautions and being complicit in what most assume would be the cat’s demise.
One message on the NTV News web site demanded that the corporate apologise, present the proprietor of the cat with compensation and have its licence to deal with harmful chemical substances withdrawn.
Others, nevertheless, identified it was tough to maintain a cat out of a manufacturing facility complicated, saying that pet homeowners who’re scared of what would possibly occur to their animals ought to by no means allow them to exterior their properties.
One extra tongue-in-cheek poster urged, “It may have evolved into a superalloy cat.”
