Mepa workers in health scare
Planning authority employees were medically screened yesterday after exposure to a gas at their offices suspected to be hydrogen sulphide, The Times has learnt.
Four workers went to Mater Dei Hospital while "at least" 30 employees visited health centres around the island to be seen by a doctor, according to a Mepa spokesman.
The Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin said some workers were "hospitalised" but both the spokesman and Mepa chairman Austin Walker denied it, saying four of the employees were referred to the hospital from the health centres but were released after further checks.
The health scare followed an evacuation on Monday of about 80 employees from Hexagon House in Marsa, which houses the authority's Environmental Protection Department, after a pungent odour could be smelt in the offices.
Hydrogen sulphide, a colourless, toxic and flammable gas, smells like rotten eggs.
According to the Union Professjonisti Awtorità tal-Ambjent u l-Ippjanar (UPAP), a "number of employees" felt unwell after being exposed to the gas. The union said they went to health centres on their own initiative and were certified to have a work-related injury due to "other type of poisoning and infections".
The planning authority spokesman could not confirm nor deny this and attempts to get further clarifications on what this meant from the union were unsuccessful.
The UĦM said the management did not follow health and safety procedures to send all employees for medical checks. But the Mepa spokesman denied this, adding that the house doctor was sent yesterday evening to all employees who had been seen at the health centres.
Still, attempts to pinpoint what caused the smell have not yet been successful and the authority spokesman said the workers would not return to the Marsa building until it was determined that the premises are safe.
He said some workers had felt dizzy following exposure to the gas.
Ray Busuttil, director general for public health regulation, said exposure to hydrogen sulphide could cause nausea, dizziness and in severe cases even delirium.
The foul smell of the gas has its advantage since it raises the alarm to its presence, said Sandro Sammut, from the Department for Environmental Health, which is also looking into the case.
Police have been asked to investigate the incident to determine whether any foul play could have been involved.
The Mepa spokesman said the odour could not be smelt outside the offices and experts have been brought in to verify what caused it.
On Monday, Mepa said the Drainage Department was called in to establish whether the smell was the result of a leakage from the drainage system of the offices but an inspection of the entire system found it to be in good working order.
The smell was not present yesterday morning, making it even more difficult to determine where it had been coming from.
Occupational Health and Safety Authority chief executive officer Mark Gauci said attempts were being made to determine the cause.
Meanwhile, three trade unions - the UĦM, the UPAP and the Mepa Technical and Clerical Workers' Union (UTAC) - have ordered the workers not to go back to the Marsa offices before these are certified as safe.
The UPAP said Monday's incident confirmed repeated complaints by workers of unacceptable pungent smells. "It is evident that despite a lot of reassurances by Mepa that the building is a safe working environment, the management's decision to evacuate the building confirms that the problem still exists. It is unfair that the management has only taken serious notice of this problem when high level officials from the government and unions were present on site," the union said.
Last September, Labour MP Leo Brincat raised the alarm that a number of Mepa workers had been transferred to Hexagon House, a place that had long been affected by an odour problem. In fact, a number of formal complaints about headaches and breathing problems caused by the smells had been lodged and measures to mitigate the problem had not been effective enough, he said.
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Jackie Dalli
Mar 25th 2009, 22:24
Let's not make fun of the matter as posted earlier. This is a very serious situation. I happen to drive in that area everyday and I always have to put up the windows due to the foul smell haunting the area. There are days when the stench is unbearable especially in the afternoons. The same smell stretches further to Triq Dicembru 13 near the traffic lights. I always thought that there was a drainage problem since when in pours there is a huge overflow of the sluggish material emanating from the manhole situated near the road leading to the Marsa Parish Church from Blata l-Bajda which I am sure many motorists note open when it rains heavily. I really do hope that something should be done NOW to safeguard the health of the numerous employees, residents and students attending school up the road from the afflicted area.
Mario Zammit
Mar 25th 2009, 18:36
Did everyone forget about the incident that happened a few years ago in Cirkewwa were drainage department employees lost their lives to the same H2S when they were sent to inspect the manhole? Does MEPA management realise it was exposing its workers to this deadly toxic gass? And irresponsibly asked its employees to return to the building cause their Director of Corporate Services did not smell any gasses on the morrow?
Mario Zammit
Mar 25th 2009, 18:34
It is to be noted that this time the MEPA employees at Hexagon House were complaining about a very strong stench from within the building, for which the source has been found after 3 days!! what about the usual re-occuring stench of H2S which haunts Hexagon House at least once a week and is present almost every day at the top of Spencer hill near the MOBC plant and the street just below?? is the source the same? cause if it isn't then the Hexagon Building should not be certified as safe for the employees to return!
What about the police officers which were sent on site to inspect it because MEPA management tought they employed children rather then professionals!!?? where they sent wearing the appropriate safety wear? did they enter the building wearing masks to protect them from inhailing the gasses? the answer is NO they weren't - yet another unprepared department! I think it is high time that Government takes a look at his departments and provide them with the appropriate safety equipment according to the risk assessment of their daily jobs!
Romina Buttigieg
Mar 25th 2009, 16:34
Let's hope that this matter is taken seriously by authorities as this problem is not only at the two entities mentioned but also at GO head office in Fra Diegu street.
Chris Finch
Mar 25th 2009, 10:20
So the source of some of the decisions of MEPA has finally been found. Lets hope that the stink has finally been removed from this Department.
L..Galea
Mar 25th 2009, 09:38
It's the same thing all over again whether it is with food colouring, preservatives, additives, GMOs or whatever.
People are put at risk and then the companies will declare bankruptcy not to pay.
As for Shipyard workers, they also used fibreglass matting as insulation (similar to that previously used in refrigerators).
When workers complained they were told that it is not harmful because it was rockwoll because the company that made it was named rockwool, but it was fibreglass matting nonetheless.
However, all workers can attest that notwithstanding face masks (very common cheap face mask) you can still feel it crunching under your teeth.
We can expect a lot of shipyard workers especially Marsa Shipbuilding workers who used it a lot to suffer consequences later on.
So the Government whoever will be there had better be ready to pay hefty compensation because it is going to be inundated with claims later on when ex-shipyard workers start feeling its effects.
MARIO TABONE-VASSALLO
Mar 25th 2009, 09:24
Meta kien hemm l-istess problema fis-sala ta' l-istennija fid-Dipartiment ta' l-Emergenza San Luqa kont skoprejt li l-klimatizzaturi kienu jirricirkolaw l-arja tal-kamra bla jdahhlu arja gdida u kienu l-gassijiet naturali tan-nies li kienu qed jinxtammu!
Bjorn Bonello
Mar 25th 2009, 09:17
Let's hope that a solution is found swiftly and that staff members that are justifiably concerned about such issues are given the necessary means to carry out their jobs at St. Francis Ravelin, and not just left there wandering. This is highly disruptive particularly to applicants who continue to suffer from delays.
On a lighter note, those very familiar with MEPA must have been relieved to know that finally they can blame extreme exposures to Hydrogen sulphide as the root of policies and decisions which are not short of delirium.
Lets all work together for a better future!!!