09 June, 2017
The Health and Safety Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency were alerted to the incident.
11 men working on nearby scaffolding recieved treatment on the scene and were taken to St Vincents' Hospital as a precaution, with two men hospitalised overnight.
The HSA has inspectors on the site but emergency services on standby.
They insist that no lime escaped the facility and the incident was completely contained within its four walls.
A spokesperson for Dublin Waste-to-Energy Ltd said: "Late on Wednesday night a small amount of lime was inadvertently released inside the flue gas treatment area during the commissioning and testing of the Dublin Waste to Energy plant at Ringsend".
Green Party TD Eamon Ryan says the health and safety protocols in the immediate aftermath of this leak are a cause for concern.
Lime is used to clean the flue gas which contains dioxins and heavy metals during the combustion process.
The incident occurred at 10.45pm last night.
Covanta is the company that runs the plant. Our thoughts are with the 11 people affected.
"We are extremely concerned at this incident happening so soon after incineration began at the site".
It is a week since Covanta described the Poolbeg incinerator as reaching its "important first fire milestone" where waste was burnt for the first time.
The incinerator was first proposed more than 20 years ago and is created to process 600,000 tonnes of waste a year.
Mary O'Leary, spokeswoman with Chase - the Cork Harbour Alliance for A Safe Environment - said: "It is time to put an end to the charade of safety touted by incinerator operators". It is satisfied there was no danger to the public.
The incident occurred during the commissioning and testing of the waste-to-energy plant.
A full investigation into the incident is now underway by Covanta, and workers are not allowed into the affected area until the investigation is complete.
"On foot of this report and the EPA's own investigation, further action may be considered", it said.
