Toxic gas leak

By Kelly Yates
CUSTOMERS and staff were evacuated from Harvey Norman and Officeworks in Narre Warren this week after firefighters detected a toxic gas reading at explosive levels.
Hydrogen sulfide was detected in Harvey Norman on Monday, with staff describing the smell throughout the store as a foul odour like rotten eggs.
Third Lieutenant Andrew Davey from the Narre Warren Fire Brigade said the gas leak was caused as a result of a chemical reaction from the malfunction of batteries in a back-up system in the retail store.
About 15 firefighters shut down both stores in the Fountain Gate Homemaker Centre after being alerted at 11.45am.
The specialised gas detection unit from Dandenong spent an hour and a half trying to track down where the dangerous gas was coming from in the building.
“As soon as we walked in we could smell the strong odour and just followed it to try and find where it was coming from,” Lieutenant Davey said.
Firefighters opened both the back and front doors in an effort to push the gas out of the store.
Police blocked off surrounding roads and the car park area, with ambulance paramedics on the scene treating those who might have been exposed to the gas.
Lieutenant Davey said many people were treated for headaches and nausea and were risk-tagged by local firefighters, which is a standard precaution for people who may have been exposed to toxic poisons.
The wrist band tags include details about the incident, in case victims later present at hospital.
In this case, no-one was transported to hospital.
Manager of Officeworks Steve Cabay said his staff were evacuated because both stores used the same air-conditioning system.
“A couple of the employees were complaining about having headaches earlier that morning,” he said.
Officeworks resumed trading later that afternoon.
Harvey Norman remained closed for the rest of day and re-opened again for business yesterday (Wednesday).
Grant Webster, the Harvey Norman franchisee, said everything was back to normal in the store.