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MARTIN DE RUYTER / Things
Emergency services were called to the Ravensdown plant in Dunedin after reports of an explosion. (File photo)
Five people were taken to hospital after being exposed to sulfur dioxide at the Ravensdown plant in Dunedin.
A visiting contractor was taken to Dunedin hospital after a “localized sulfur flash.” Four others were also taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, but have since been discharged.
Ravensdown Dunedin labor manager Tony Gray said the fifth person, who was still in the hospital Tuesday afternoon, was in “good spirits” and was being held for further observation.
“It is too early to say what the cause was, but no welding equipment was used,” he said.
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“We will investigate what happened, but at this point it appears that residual dust ignited during the removal of a decades-old hopper in a rock store.
“This did not cause flames or loud noise, but it did cause a small cloud of dust and elevated sulfur dioxide in the affected building.”
Worksafe has been briefed and the area has been isolated and shipping and manufacturing continue as normal, he said.
A New Zealand Fire and Emergency spokesperson said they were notified of an explosion at the plant on Ravensbourne Rd at 10.13 a.m.
He said that when crews arrived, there was no fire, but five workers had been exposed to sulfur dioxide.
Sulfur dioxide can irritate the nose, throat and lungs and cause respiratory problems, according to the Ministry of the Environment.
A spokesperson for St John said two ambulances and a manager attended.
One person was slightly injured and four people were slightly injured.
They were all taken to Dunedin hospital.
