Fire-fighters refuse to clean up spillage

Press, 24 February 1987, Page 6

Fire-fighters refuse to clean up spillage

PA Dunedin Dunedin fire-fighters refused to clean up a chemical spillage they were called to yesterday. The divisional officer, Mr Terry Scott, said the Fire Service would not deal with the spillage unless it was a threat to life. “We consider we have not got the proper facilities and it puts undue risk on our people,” Mr Scott said. Two officials from the

Health Department were called to the scene of the spillage, a Tranzealand, Ltd, warehouse. A container was being unloaded when an employee noticed chemicals leaking out of cartons in it One of the Health Department officials wearing Fire Service breathing apparatus approached the container to try to determine what the chemicals were. He was accompanied by

one fire-fighter who, Mr Scott said, would not deal with the spillage and was only going to ensure the safety of the Health Department officer. Mr Scott said that if the* chemicals were not found to be a threat to life the Fire Service would “pack up and leave.” “Nobody is addressing the problems. They let them bounce around and then call us in to clean up the mess,” he said. *