Sewer gas poisoning suspected in two Yunlin factory deaths

Taipei, April 14 (CNA) Two contracted workers died Sunday after suffering from suspected sewer gas poisoning while maintaining a rainwater recycling system at a food factory in Yunlin County, according to local authorities.

The factory and outside contractor hired to do the work were both fined NT$300,000 (US$9,264), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) central service center said Monday.

A criminal investigation into potential involuntary manslaughter charges has also opened, the OSHA center said.

The two workers for the outside contractor, brothers surnamed Huang (黃) in their 40s, went to the food factory on Sunday afternoon to maintain the factory's rainwater recycling pool, starting with pumping out water and getting rid of gases from the system.

After the younger brother opened the manhole cover above the pool and put his water pump into the pool, the stirring of the water led to the release of a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide, OSHA center Director Lin Tsung-wei (林聰偉) told CNA by telephone Monday.

The younger brother is believed to have lost consciousness from inhaling too much sewer gas before falling into the 2.65-meter-high and 1.2-meter-deep water pool, Lin said.

After the accident, the older brother immediately entered the pool with a ladder to rescue his younger brother, but he also passed out in the pool, suspected to have also inhaled a large amount of sewer gas, according to Lin.

The two brothers suffered from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) before being rushed to a nearby hospital where they were pronounced dead, according to the Yunlin County Fire Department on Sunday.

Lin said the factory's operations had many deficiencies, including failing to measure hazardous substances before operating and failing to install ventilation equipment. There were also no measures such as guardrails or safety belts set up on site, he indicated.

Given those failures, the Central OSHA center determined that the food company did not fulfill its management responsibilities and issued a fine of NT$300,000 each to the food company and contractors in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

It also ordered a halt to the water pumping operation, according to the center.

In addition, the two companies have been asked to submit improvement plans which will have to be approved before related work can be resumed, the center said.