21 Workers Hospitalised in Carbon Monoxide Leak at Derrimut Pork Factory

A carbon monoxide leak at the Auspork pork processing plant in Derrimut, Melbourne, sickened dozens of workers, with 21 hospitalized for symptoms including headaches, dizziness, nausea, and altered consciousness. Sixty people were evacuated, and fire crews ventilated the building while providing oxygen therapy. The leak originated from meat preservation machinery, and WorkSafe is investigating. Authorities said the incident could have been far worse, but all affected workers are expected to recover.

A serious carbon monoxide leak at the Auspork pork processing plant in Derrimut, a western suburb of Melbourne, left dozens of workers unwell on Monday afternoon, with emergency crews warning that the situation “absolutely could have been a lot worse.” The incident occurred around 12:45 pm, prompting the evacuation of sixty employees from the factory as authorities scrambled to contain the hazard and prevent further harm.

Twenty-one workers were transported to local hospitals after showing symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide exposure, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Paramedics also reported that some employees were in an altered state of consciousness, highlighting the severity of the exposure and the potentially life-threatening nature of the gas.

Fire crews quickly entered the facility to assess and address the situation. Initial readings revealed dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide inside the plant. The crews ventilated the building thoroughly, ensuring that gas concentrations dropped to safe levels before anyone could re-enter. While doing so, firefighters administered oxygen therapy to those affected, stabilizing patients until paramedics arrived to continue treatment.

David Anderson, medical advisor for Ambulance Victoria, stressed the extreme risks posed by carbon monoxide. “It can be lethal. It is a very dangerous chemical. It’s colorless and odorless, so it can only be detected with specialized equipment,” he explained. He further noted that in high concentrations, carbon monoxide prevents oxygen from binding to hemoglobin in the blood, which can lead to suffocation and death if exposure is prolonged.

Despite the severity of the incident, Anderson expressed optimism that all affected workers are expected to make a full recovery following proper medical treatment. “They need continuous high-flow oxygen for at least six hours, and then, with monitoring, they should be able to go home safely,” he said.

Investigations suggest the leak originated from machinery used for meat preservation, a component critical to the factory’s operations. While incidents of this kind are rare in Australia, Anderson emphasized that they can be extremely dangerous and require swift, coordinated responses from emergency services.

WorkSafe has been notified of the incident and is on-site to assess compliance with workplace safety regulations and determine any further steps needed to prevent recurrence. Authorities continue to monitor the factory and the condition of the affected employees, while also reviewing protocols to ensure such hazardous situations are avoided in the future.

The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by carbon monoxide, an invisible but highly toxic gas. Emergency responders praised the prompt evacuation and intervention, noting that without swift action, the outcome could have been far more serious.