from ABC
More than 20 people were taken to hospital for medical assessment after being exposed to gas at a processing plant run by Tasmanian salmon giant Tassal.
Authorities were notified about the incident at Tassal’s Strathblane facility near Dover about 11:30am on Sunday.
Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) said an assessment on-site indicated the most likely cause was carbon monoxide, from the operation of forklifts inside the building.
“On arrival [the crews] found that people had evacuated the building and there were some people that presented there with some respiratory illness and some people that had been vomiting,” Acting District Officer Barry Bones said.
“A few people started to present with more illness and that’s a classic way this gas affects people.
“Most people were treated by Tasmania Ambulance as a precautionary measure. It’s just to make sure that people don’t go downhill.”
They were taken to the emergency department at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) for assessment.
from The Motley Fool
The Tassal Group Ltd (ASX: TGR) share price is slipping today after a gas leak incident at the salmon producer’s Strathblane facility yesterday.
At the time of writing, the Tassal share price is trading 1.87% lower at $3.68.
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According to Tassal’s 2020 Sustainability Report, the company recorded 20 injuries requiring medical treatment in FY20. This was a reduction from FY19’s 31.
This was despite the company’s number of employees increasing by more than 100 to 1,458.
Tassal also reports its total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) has dropped each year since FY16. This metric measures the number of injuries requiring medical treatment per million hours worked.
In FY20, Tassal recorded 8.03 injuries per million hours worked.
The company is yet to provide a market update on the incident, despite the Tassal share price impact.
Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Health, 30 May 2021
Workplace incident at Dover
My thoughts are with the Tassal employees impacted by a substance exposure at the company’s Dover site.
Arrangements are in place to enable more than 20 people to be treated at the RHH this afternoon. I’d like to acknowledge the Hobart Private Hospital for working so quickly to activate plans for making the Emergency Room available to cater for the extra patient volume as a result of this incident.
I’d also like to thank the emergency services who attended the scene, continue to work at the scene and the health teams who have been working to provide the right care for those employees requiring medical attention.
The Tasmanian Government will continue to monitor the unfolding situation, stay in close contact with the company and offer any further assistance that may be required.
Media statement – Professor Anthony Lawler, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, 30 May 2021
Response to substance exposure incident
More than 20 people are being transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital for medical assessment this afternoon following exposure to a substance at a commercial facility in Southern Tasmania.
Initial treatment has been provided onsite by Ambulance Tasmania staff.
While the Emergency Department is preparing to receive the patients for assessment and any required treatment, members of the public are asked to avoid attending the RHH emergency department, unless they are in need of urgent medical care.
Arrangements are being put in place to have private hospital emergency departments used to treat other patients who may need medical assistance while this group of patients is assessed.
Substance exposure incident: patient update
Patients are continuing to be treated at the Royal Hobart Hospital following the substance exposure incident in Southern Tasmania today.
All patients have been assessed and are stable. At this stage, three patients will be admitted overnight, while others will be discharged for further treatment in the next 24 hours.
Media statement – Professor Anthony Lawler, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, 31 May 2021
Substance exposure incident: patient update
Four patients are continuing to receive treatment at the Royal Hobart Hospital following the substance exposure incident in Southern Tasmania today. They remain in a stable condition and are due to be discharged this afternoon.
All other patients have been discharged.
