Nikon gas-poison scare spurs protests, probe
By Elaine Kurtenbach |
May 13, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
OFFICIALS in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, are investigating after workers from a factory of Japanese camera maker Nikon Corp protested the handling of an apparent gas poisoning incident.
Local media reports said more than 50 workers at Nikon Imaging (China) Co's Wuxi plant have taken ill since late April, complaining of nausea and vomiting from the apparent release of sulfur dioxide in the area.
Nikon and local government officials said the gas was thought to have come from a nearby pharmaceutical company, rather than the camera factory. But an official in the media affairs office of Wuxi Hi-tech Industrial City would not give details.
Nikon's offices in Wuxi gave no immediate response to questions e-mailed to them at their request. Reports said the Nikon factory has halted production pending the results of the investigation.
Late last week, the Wuxi health bureau issued a statement saying that the results of tests for hazardous substances at the factory had shown no problems.
It said doctors who examined the workers found no serious abnormalities and concluded that any problems were psychological in origin.
It recommended counseling for the workers.
According to the Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao and other reports, some 5,000 workers went on strike last Saturday, objecting to those conclusions and demanding compensation.
The protest blocked traffic in the area but broke up later in the day. Several hundred workers continued to protest earlier this week.
Local media reports said more than 50 workers at Nikon Imaging (China) Co's Wuxi plant have taken ill since late April, complaining of nausea and vomiting from the apparent release of sulfur dioxide in the area.
Nikon and local government officials said the gas was thought to have come from a nearby pharmaceutical company, rather than the camera factory. But an official in the media affairs office of Wuxi Hi-tech Industrial City would not give details.
Nikon's offices in Wuxi gave no immediate response to questions e-mailed to them at their request. Reports said the Nikon factory has halted production pending the results of the investigation.
Late last week, the Wuxi health bureau issued a statement saying that the results of tests for hazardous substances at the factory had shown no problems.
It said doctors who examined the workers found no serious abnormalities and concluded that any problems were psychological in origin.
It recommended counseling for the workers.
According to the Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao and other reports, some 5,000 workers went on strike last Saturday, objecting to those conclusions and demanding compensation.
The protest blocked traffic in the area but broke up later in the day. Several hundred workers continued to protest earlier this week.
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