WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
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TO CONFIRM THIS, A SIMULATION TEST WAS CARRIED OUT IN THE AFTERNOON OF SATURDAY (JANUARY 29), WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF WORKERS, AND AIR SAMPLES WERE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST.
ANALYSIS OF THE AIR SAMPLES BY THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST CONFIRMED THAT OZONE AND PHOSGENE WERE THE GASES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOXIC EFFECTS ON THE AFFECTED WORKERS.
MR HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT A PROPERLY DESIGNED EXHAUST SYSTEM SHOULD CONTROL THE TOXIC GASES GENERATED IN THE PROCESS AND PREVENTED ANY ESCAPE TO THE GENERAL WORK PLACE ENVIRONMENT. HOWEVER, THE PROPRIETOR HAS INFORMED THE DEPARTMENT RECENTLY THAT HE HAS DECIDED TO CEASE OPERATING THE PROCESS AND TO RETURN THE MACHINERY TO JAPAN.
A REGISTER OF AFFECTED PERSONS IS BEING ESTABLISHED AND THEIR HEALTH PATTERN WILL BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW. ARRANGEMENTS HAVE ALSO REEN MADE FOR THE OBSTETRIC UNIT AND PEDIATRIC UNIT OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL TO PROVIDE SPECIAL SURVEILLANCE FOR PREGNANT EMPLOYEES AND THE IR BABIES.
FATAL ACCIDENTS FROM DOMESTIC CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING DECLINE
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OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF FATAL ACCIDENTS FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING CAUSED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF DOMESTIC GAS WATER HEATERS, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON P. JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THERE WERE 10 DEATHS FROM SUCH ACCIDENTS IN 1980, EIGHT IN 1981 AND FOUR IN 1982, MR JACOBS SAID IN REPLY TO THE HON LYDIA DUNN.
THE DROP REFLECTED NOT ONLY HEIGHTENED CONSUMER AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NOW AVAILABLE A SUPPLY OF SAFE WATER HEATERS, HE SAID.
EVENTUALLY, IT WILL BE +BUT THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY. NECESSARY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE GAS SAFETY LEGISLATION TO REGULATE THE MANUFACTURE, STORAGE, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND UTILISATION OF GAS FUELS AND GAS APPLIANCES, MR JACOBS SAID, ADDING THAT HE WOULD SHORTLY SUBMIT A REPORT ON GAS SAFETY TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
THE FINDINGS OF THE GAS SAFETY CONSULTANTS WERE BASIC LY THAT FUELESS HEATERS AND OPEN FLUE HEATERS WERE UNSAFE BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT BEEN CORRECTLY INSTALLED, HE SAID.
/THE C
ANTS