WEDNESDAY, 10 MARCH 2010 12:35
A WORKER on a National Fisheries Development (NFD) fishing vessel reportedly died mid-last month of a poisonous gas called ammonia.
A well–placed source from Noro, Western province, said the vessel was berthing outside to unload fish for Soltai Company when the incident happened.
The source said the worker entered the fish hall where the poisonous gas filled because of a leak to a pipe.
Ammonia is a gas used to help icing in the fish hall.
“The worker was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead,” he said.
He said two other workers who followed the first person were resuscitated to life.
He said the gas contaminated the tonnes of fish kept in the vessel’s fish hall.
He said as a result of the contamination, about 13 containers of the Solomon Blue tayio was held late last month.
“They processed the fish and prepared the containers for export but found out that they were contaminated.
“It is not clear whether the contamination is linked to that gas leakage but workers were ordered to destroy all the cans of tayio.
“But workers say when the fish were cooked, it turned red which was unusual, but they kept processing them.”
The source said the consignment was destroyed but some senior Soltai workers are now selling tayio in Noro for only half price.
“It is a huge story here in Noro at the moment and people are aware of that.
“Incase anyone selling price in the provinces and the capital at unbelievable price for tins of tayio, people need to be warned on this.”
He said that particular set of product is not standardize and is not fit for human consumption.
The source said he tried to talk to Soltai authorities on the matter but they were tightlipped.
Attempts by the Solomon Star to talk to them yesterday were unsuccessful.
By EDNAL PALMER
i know ammonia stinks, but i never knew it was poisonous.