A Penang Fire and Rescue Department official said the hands of a 57-year-old man were burnt by nitric acid while he was handling a 210-litre drum containing the corrosive liquid at the factory at 10.44am.

He said at least 40% of the contents of the drum were spilled on the floor of the chemical store at the factory.

“A hazardous materials (Hazmat) team transferred the remaining contents into another drum after plugging a leak on the older drum.

“The man handling the drum has been taken to the hospital,” the spokesman said.

He said that the acid spill, which spread about 150 sq ft, had been cleaned by the Hazmat team.

Yesterday, a disgruntled 25-year-old employee of the factory hacked a woman to death with a parang and severed the hands of a man in what police said was a fit of rage.

The woman succumbed to her injuries on the spot while the man is reported to be in a critical condition.

Police, who responded to the attack yesterday evening, had tried to calm the assailant but when he charged at two officers with a parang, they fired at him. He died on the spot.