Workers at a chemical storage plant on Canvey were ordered to clean up a road spill spotted outside their firm's main gates.
Haven Road was closed for around 90 minutes as the spill was cleaned up outside Oikoss Storage.
About five gallons of sodium hydroxide was estimated to have been spilled over 100 yards the road.
However, fire chiefs called on Oikoss' own clean-up team to get rid of the spill.
Canvey sub-officer Richard Harris said: "Two engines were called along to the spill at 12.45pm yesterday with a full decontamination team.
"The officers in the decontamination team decided that they would get Oikoss out to clear it up.
"The spill is thought to have been about four to five gallons. It was just outside their main gates and it covered about 100 yards or the road."
Chemical experts recommended diluting the sodium hydroxide down with water to clear it away.
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