2nd suspected case of workplace carbon monoxide poisoning in N.B.
Safety officials in New Brunswick are investigating another suspected case of carbon monoxide poisoning at a workplace in the province.
Fourteen employees working in a potato warehouse in New Denmark fell ill on Wednesday afternoon, WorkSafeNB officials confirmed on Thursday.
Investigators believe the workers, who were complaining of nausea and headaches, were exposed to carbon monoxide fumes.
The workers were treated at the Grand Falls General Hospital. It's not yet known whether they have all been released.
Investigators are still trying to determine the source of the fumes, but say they may have come from a lift truck.
The warehouse was being rented by a numbered company.
Meanwhile, safety officials continue to investigate a similar incident at Sunny Corner Enterprises Inc. in Miramichi, which sent at least 34 people to hospital on Wednesday morning.
WorkSafeNB officials have determined it was carbon monoxide poisoning, but are still trying to pinpoint the cause, spokesman Fidele Cormier told CBC News on Thursday.
"They're looking at various potential sources, taking measurements of air quality carbon monoxide, whether there were any rolling vehicles, any types of furnaces and so on," Cormier said.
"There's also other people from private industry called in to test equipment to see if there are any faults for the heating system and so on."
The employees, who were assembling drill rig components at the northern manufacturing plant, were also complaining of headaches and nausea, like the New Denmark case, as well as respiratory issues and confusion. One of them passed out.
All of the employees have since recovered and been released from hospital.
Firefighters vented the building by opening the windows and bay doors.
General manager George MacLeod says levels at the plant are back to normal and there is no sign of further contamination.
But the building remains closed on Thursday while officials try to determine the cause and origin of the leak.
