OSH investigates fumigation at port

Occupational Safety and Health is investigating a complaint after five people allegedly suffered headaches and a burning sensation around their mouths while timber was being fumigated at Port Nelson.

The incident apparently occurred near the Holcim Cement depot last Tuesday directly behind the port's number two shed, where sawn timber is regularly fumigated with methyl bromide gas before being exported to Australia.

OSH Nelson service manager Brian Stratford said it was alerted when an affected worker at a nearby business lodged a complaint the next day.

Although five people reportedly suffered symptoms, only three were having blood tests, and the results would be analysed by OSH investigators.

The Nelson Public Health Service, which is responsible for enforcing the 1967 fumigation regulations, has confirmed that fumigation occurred in number two shed around the time of the incident, and that gas was discharged to the air.

Senior health protection officer Geoff Cameron said an officer had spoken to the fumigation company, Genera, and was satisfied that appropriate procedures were followed and that regulations were not breached.

Mr Stratford said he would be concerned if fumigant gas was found to have caused the symptoms, given recent media attention surrounding the port's fumigation activities.

The incident follows an anonymous complaint to OSH along similar lines, received by phone in December.

The caller alleged that two workers suffered blistering around their mouths after timber was fumigated in a ship's hold at Picton. The complaint was referred to the Maritime Safety Authority.

Public Health is investigating a suspicious cluster of deaths involving former port workers who died from the rare degenerative brain illness motor neurone disease. Their widows believe the deaths might be linked to methyl bromide exposure. No medical evidence supported the claim.

- NZPA