Two dozen people rushed to hospital after carbon monoxide leak in Melbourne’s west

3 months ago 6

Two dozen workers have been rushed to hospital after a carbon monoxide leak at a factory in Melbourne’s west on Monday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to a pork processing plant in Benn Court, Derrimut, about 12.45pm, Fire Rescue Victoria said.

“Firefighters arrived to find 60 persons had evacuated from the factory, with multiple casualties suffering the effects of carbon monoxide exposure,” FRV said in a statement.

“FRV crews assisted by applying oxygen therapy to the patients until Ambulance Victoria arrived on scene.”

In a statement just after 3pm, Ambulance Victoria said crews were still at the site and specific patient details were not yet available.

“Twenty-four patients have been transported by road ambulance to Western Health Sunshine, Western Health Footscray, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Werribee Mercy Hospital,” a spokeswoman said.

“All patients, including those being transported, are believed to be in a stable condition.”

FRV said firefighters donned masks and entered the factory with gas detectors before the incident was declared under control at 1.41pm.

“It was found that the carbon monoxide readings inside the building were still dangerously high. Crews ventilated the building until the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dropped to safe levels,” FRV said.

“The leak was found to have come from some meat preservation machinery.”