Victoria's work safety watchdog is investigating the rupture of a 1000-litre chemical tank that burst and sprayed burning acid on two factory workers in Melbourne's west.
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One employee, a 30-year-old man, was covered in acrylic acid on his face, neck, chest and arms during the industrial accident on Tuesday morning.
"Thankfully he was wearing protective eyewear," an ambulance spokesman said.
"He cooled and rinsed the burns under water and has been taken to The Alfred hospital."
A second worker received minor acid burns to his hands and was treated at the scene.
WorkSafe Victoria said investigators had attended the chemical factory at Law Court, Sunshine West, and had begun making inquiries into the cause.
Dozens of emergency services personnel, including firefighters and paramedics, raced to the Law Court premises about 8.15am on Tuesday after reports the acrylic acid tank had ruptured.
Firefighters wearing chemical-splash suits were continued dousing the spilled acid with soda ash to neutralise it on Tuesday afternoon.
"The residue will later be swept up into recovery drums," MFB Commander Phil Taylor said.
"The labour-intensive work has been ongoing since shortly after 8am and is likely to continue for several more hours."
