QUẢNG NINH — The air quality measured at the warehouse of Japanese-invested Yazaki Co, Ltd in northern Quảng Ninh Province, where nearly 100 workers became disoriented and lost consciousness last Friday, has been declared safe, the provincial inspection team has announced.

At a working meeting with representatives of Yazaki Co, Ltd in Đông Mai Industrial Zone on July 12, the inspection team said it had conducted quick tests on the air quality at four different locations around the warehouse. 

Results showed that the air monitoring index was safe. 

Previously, the inspection team had conducted air quality tests on July 7, 10 and 11. The monitoring air index was within the allowable limits of the national regulations for a safe working environment.

The inspection team said that the company had taken measures to improve the working environment for the workers of the company. Ten more fans and three steam fans had been installed in the warehouse, raising the total number of fans to 49.

The company had opened seven vented doors to bring cooler air from the factory to the warehouse.

At about 8am on July 6, nearly 100 people were knocked unconscious after beginning work at Yazaki Co, Ltd in Đông Mai Industrial Zone in Quảng Yên Town. As many as 70 workers were hospitalised for treatment, and the rest were immediately evacuated from the workplace.

The provincial Department of Health invited doctors from Hà Nội’s Bạch Mai Hospital to take air samples for tests to find out the cause of the incident.

Test results from the Việt Nam-Sweden Hospital showed that the health indices of these workers were normal and did not show the presence of formaldehyde.

Initial evaluation by specialists showed that the amount of formaldehyde gas at Yazaki Co, Ltd on the day of the incident was between 4-5 mg per cubic metre of air, four to five times higher than the permitted level. The formaldehyde levels were back to normal on the following days.

The provincial People’s Committee directed the departments and authorities of Quảng Yên Town to implement urgent measures to ensure a safe working environment for the workers of the company. — VNS