Eight people were hospitalised after a forklift caused a chemical spill last week.

Fire crews were called to Booth Transport after a spill of organic phosphorous pesticide, according to the Herald Sun newspaper. Fire inspector George Benham said a forklift ruptured three 20-litre drums of the toxic chemical.

Ambulance officers and firefighters "decontaminated" 13 people in chemical showers, but eight were hospitalised for specialist treatment.