Following an ozone generator leak in an aged care facility laundry, WorkSafe has issued a safety alert to raise awareness of the potential health effects of exposure to ozone.
Employees in the laundry noticed a bleach odour, but did not know that it was ozone causing the odour. The smell was reported to maintenance who attended the laundry and reset the ozone generator that had tripped and was leaking ozone into the washing machines. The odour continued to worsen and ultimately two employees were overcome by the ozone gas and suffered adverse health effects. Several other employees including contractors were also exposed to the gas.
Potential health effects from ozone exposure include -
- irritation and inflammation of eye, nose, throat and airways
- reduced lung function
- exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases
- increased susceptibility to respiratory infections
Ozone can continue to damage lungs even after the symptoms have resolved.
WorkSafe recommends the following ways to control the risks of ozone exposure –
- Ensure your ozone generators have alarms and controllers to automatically shut off when there is a leak
- Establish a system to monitor and alert to high ozone levels
- Ensure regular manufacturer recommended maintenance is performed
- Train all relevant employees on how to use ozone generators and how to respond if ozone is detected
- Provide information about the associated hazards
Read more: Ozone exposure | WorkSafe Victoria