Workplace regulators in Washington state are investigating an apparent forklift-related carbon monoxide poisoning impacting 28 workers at a cold storage facility of Ocean Cold.

Propane-powered forklifts from the seafood processing plant are being tested, and Ocean Cold now uses battery-powered forklifts.

On 23 September, local fire and police departments and an ambulance service responded to a 1.26 am emergency call from Ocean Cold in Westport and found more than 20 workers outside the plant vomiting and experiencing headaches. Of 28 persons treated initially at the Grays Harbor Community Hospital, 11 were transferred to Virginia Mason Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle for more treatment.

The investigation may last two months.

Ocean Cold's parent company, Ocean Gold Seafoods Inc of Westport, had a separate carbon monoxide incident in September 2007 "where a worker operating a propane-powered forklift in a plant freezer was overcome by carbon monoxide," says Elaine Fischer of the state's labour and industries (L&I) department. "Co-workers found him sitting on the forklift, unresponsive."

Fischer notes the worker, in his first day on the job, "was admitted to the hospital for hyperbaric chamber treatments and survived the incident. The forklift in the 2007 incident was a Caterpillar model GC18K."

Ocean Gold was fined USD10,050 after being cited for six serious violations relating to training forklift operators, educating drivers on carbon monoxide hazards, not controlling the carbon monoxide hazard in an enclosed area and hazardous noise levels for operators.

L&I issued a reminder "in light of the apparent carbon monoxide poisoning" at Ocean Cold.

Steve Cant notes: "Every fall and winter, we see an increase in these incidents. The exposures may involve large numbers of workers in a single incident." Cant is assistant director of the occupational safety and health division within L&I.

All internal combustion engines produce carbon monoxide that can build up in enclosed spaces to dangerous and possibly deadly amounts, the agency says. L&I offers free safety consultations to employers needing help in assessing workplace hazards.