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The owners of New Plymouth Pak'N Save have been ordered to pay nearly $30,000 in fines and costs after four workers were rushed to hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning due to a forklift being used indoors.
The discount supermarket's owners, Melody Holdings, pleaded guilty in New Plymouth District Court this week to failing to take all practicable steps to ensure employees' safety.
In a decision released today, Judge Allan Roberts fined the company $25,000 as well as an extra $1000 in reparations to each victim.
Labour Department Taranaki service manager Brett Murray said the four staff, who worked in the food preparation and cool store area, became ill in October last year, and were taken to Taranaki Base Hospital.
Three of the four had to be admitted to the intensive care unit, and subsequent blood tests showed carboxyhaemoglobin levels -- indicating carbon monoxide poisoning -- of up to 33.2 per cent.
Mr Murray said the maximum level allowed was 3.5 per cent, and levels of 40 per cent or more could cause unconsciousness and death.
He said carbon monoxide exposure was a recognised hazard for workers driving LPG forklifts in poorly ventilated areas.
"Yet Melody Holdings had not identified carbon monoxide fumes as being a hazard in its cool store and preparation areas."
The four staff members had had a lucky escape.
Carbon monoxide was a colourless and odourless gas which could build up in confined work areas.
"Workers should be aware that symptoms like headaches, nausea and dizziness might be signs that they are suffering the effects of carbon monoxide and they should alert their managers," Mr Murray said.
LPG forklifts should only be used in well-ventilated spaces, and electric forklifts should be used in other areas, he added.
National Distribution Union secretary Maxine Gay said the union would be checking up on Pak'N Saves around the country to make sure the chain's health and safety practices were up to scratch.
"Companies can only guarantee workers' health and safety by providing good ventilation, 10 minute breaks every hour to allow staff to get fresh air and by using electric forklifts wherever possible."
She described the reparations awarded to the victims in the New Plymouth case as "paltry".
- NZPA
