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Manager Says Worker Sickened By Gas Leak Back at Health Unit

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 February 2006, 18:00 CST

By DAVID J. MITCHELL

Manager says worker sickened by gas leak back at health unit

GONZALES A temporary employee at the Ascension Parish Health Unit East who became ill from a natural gas leak in the building last week is back on the job this week, the parish Health Department manager said Tuesday.

Health unit officials immediately shut down a leaking natural gas line in the Gonzales building Feb. 8 after an odor of gas was detected and the leak was reported to authorities, manager Kenny Matassa said.

The leak was found in the buildings mechanical room where gas- fed heaters and a hot water heater are installed, he said.

But as a plumber began repairs of the line Thursday morning, the employee, who was working in the units lab, was overcome by the gas smell and became ill, Matassa said.

Natural gas is odorless, but is injected with chemical products called odorants to permit people to smell natural gas if it leaks.

Matassa said he called Gonzales Fire Department and city officials again to see if there was another leak, as well as to check for carbon monoxide, but tests were negative.

Readings from instruments Thursday didnt show any dangerous levels, Gonzales Fire Chief Butch Browning said.

Matassa speculated that the buildings air-conditioning system circulated gas remaining in the line when the plumber opened it to do repair work Thursday.

The (gas) meter was off, and she got sick, Matassa said.

Matassa said the employee was ready to go back to work Friday, normally her day off, so he said he told her to come back Monday. He said repairs and checks have been completed, including an inspection of the heating units and the cleaning of the buildings air ducts.

No gas odor was noticeable late Tuesday afternoon in the buildings public reception area. The building is at 1024 S.E. Ascension Complex Blvd.

Source: Advocate; Baton Rouge, La.

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