Stevedore wants compensation for poisoning

A Nelson man is demanding compensation and an apology from his former employer after the release of an Occupational Safety and Health report saying it is "highly probable" he was poisoned by methyl bromide while working as a stevedore.

Ian Street says no one has admitted responsibility for his illness and he is angry that OSH did not prosecute fumigation company Brimark Holdings or Stevedoring Services Nelson, for which he formerly worked.

Mr Street receives weekly ACC payments for his illness and is still unable to work fulltime.

He suffers from fatigue and shortness of breath, becomes easily stressed under pressure and has difficulty multi-tasking. He also complains of memory loss.

Mr Street, a stevedore at Port Nelson for 30 years, became ill in December 2000 while driving a forklift in a shed where timber was being fumigated with methyl bromide.

An OSH report into the incident says a doctor diagnosed Mr Street with methyl bromide poisoning and blood tests revealed low levels of the gas in his body.

"It is highly probable that Ian Street suffered [methyl bromide] poisoning," the report says. 

Mr Street said this week that he was led to believe prosecutions would be pursued over the incident.

He was disappointed that OSH finally chose not to prosecute and that no one from Brimark Holdings, which no longer performs fumigation at Port Nelson, or Stevedoring Services Nelson had been held accountable.

"I haven't even had an apology from them. I've had nothing."

OSH Nelson service manager Brian Stratford said no prosecution was pursued because OSH was satisfied with the steps taken by the companies to ensure the incident was not repeated.

Brimark director Mark Greenwood disputed the report's findings and said he would not admit responsibility for Mr Street's illness.

- NZPA