SAFETY services on industrial sites in Teesside have received an investment boost.

SembCorp Utilities UK, in Wilton, has spent £130,000 on three ambulances to respond to medical emergencies at Huntsman, Invista, Lucite International and Petroplus, at the Wilton, Billingham and North Tees sites.

About 10,000 people work at the plants, laboratories and offices on the sites.

SembCorp has the only privately-owned industrial emergency response service in the UK, with staff trained to ambulance technician standard and to the same level in basic trauma life support as national ambulance service personnel.

Its service is geared up to deal with a wide range of medical incidents and emergencies.

The new ambulances contain all the features of conventional vehicles, but have special items designed for use in an industrial environment.

These include specialist stretchers, which can be used to rescue injured people from structures at a height or in confined spaces.

Richard Murray, protection business group manager, said: "They are great vehicles, specially designed for use on industrial premises like ours, and will greatly add to our ability to serve our customers.

"In emergencies, time is of the essence - it can literally save lives - and these vehicles are equipped with everything we need to deal with any office or plant-based emergency."