IPOH: A 42-year-old factory worker was transferred to the intensive care unit at the Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) while a fireman is being treated at the same hospital after they inhaled the toxic gas at a chemical manufacturing facility in Bukit Merah here yesterday.
Perak Health director Datuk Dr Juita Ghazalie today confirmed that the worker is now on ventilator support after suffering lung inflammation due to inhalation of chlorine gas.
The victim was identified as R. Murugan.
"Other vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate are normal.
"We have given him muscle relaxants to allow him to sleep," she said here today.
At another ward, Abdul Faris Hilmi Abd Latiff, 26, from the hazardous material (Hazmat) team, is still recuperating.
"He is in the general ward and in stable condition.
"However, he is still under observation," said Dr Juita.
Yesterday, six firemen from the Hazmat team as well as two factory workers were rushed to the hospital after they inhaled toxic fumes from a leaked ferric acid tank in Bukit Merah, Menglembu.
They were treated at the HRPB after displaying symptoms related to toxic gas inhalation such as breathing difficulty, red eyes and stomach ache.
State Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon was quoted as saying that the firemen involved had also experiencing fatigue as they had to carry about five tonnes of soda ash on their back to help neutralise the spilled acid.
Initial investigation found that one of the tanks, which contained the corrosive acid, had a leakage before it fell on the ground about 10am. The incident also caused panic among villagers in Kampung Bukit Merah when the pungent gas spread to their village.