Faye Snow’s fight against the system, proving occupational solvent poisoninghad ruined her health

"My Job almost cost me my life" 

Written by Faye Snow

My job was to produce various price tickets and signs for the departments using felt pens, liquid printing inks, aerosol sprays and fluorescent or acrylic house paints. The room I was to work in was an enclosed area 10’ x 6’ (3m x 2m) with no ventilation or air and only one door. If you think this sounds like a storage room, you’re right... it was!

In the first three months of working I slowly developed symptoms such as a runny nose, coughing, recurrent conjunctivitis, nonspecific headaches, sore throat and red itchy patches on my legs and ankles. I tackled these annoying symptoms but everything I tried only gave temporary relief. I found it difficult to determine the cause of these symptoms because they always seemed to come and go. When my eyes became sensitive to light I had them checked finding out that there was an allergy type reaction to irritants and the sensitivity was probably the fluorescent lights and the glare off the paper.

When my work load doubled so too did the pens and inks I used. People would often

comment “how can you work in there, it stinks, can ‘tyou smell it?” Funnily enough I couldn’t anymore. The room was hot and I became very irritable with marked mood swings. I was pulled up constantly about my attitude and this puzzled me as it wasn’t like me to be moody. Fatigue, joint pain, nausea and weight loss then became a constant battle and I was labeled the whinging sign writer’.

By this stage there seemed to be no other explanation for my ill-health, I realised it had to be the fumes and lack of adequate ventilation. After much asking, I was finally provided with a fan but this was not an extraction fan, it simply circulated the toxic fumes around the room. Now I felt worse.

I was constantly ‘hassling’ the management and the management was always promising but not providing. In the end I found I had no option but to go to my Union Delegate. He contacted the department of labour who suggested an enquiry. As this would create problems between me and management I went back to the management giving them the opportunity to rectify the situation without further action. However all that management recommended was to come out of my work ‘room’ every 20 minutes. Still no ventilation was provided. I couldn’t understand how they could blantantly ignore

the problems with my dangerous work environment and my obvious health symptoms.

Due to my work load, leaving the room every 20 minutes didn’t work for long. It was apparent I had to find other means to protect myself. I wanted and needed a mask. I didn’t want to breathe the fumes anymore. Finally after two months I got a mask with a charcoal filter. But the mask came too late and two weeks later I was put off work for non-specific neck problems.

I went to the company G.P. who referred me to a physiotherapist and she confirmed that the chair I was using had a back support which leant badly to the left and subsequently had caused motor skill damage to my left side! I did not qualify for ACC however as this was a non-specific neck problem. I returned to work 12/2 weeks later and was allowed to price a new chair but that was all I got, the price.

Further down the track the company was doing more cost-cutting, which resulted in me having to use cheaper but more toxic pens and inks. By now my life felt like one big blur. Everyone commented on my personality changes and I noticed people started avoiding me, including my own partner and children. I looked and felt awfu but nobody seem to believe me that it was my job that was making me sick As my concentration and memory began to fail I decided to keep a diary. By this stage I had no energy levels and my breathing was wheezy and shallow. The last straw was when all my teeth began to ache and fall loose, and there was a putrid metallic taste in my mouth. A dental check-up showed that major work was required and the quoted cost left me speechless. I couldn’t really afford the treatment but I had no choice. I went under a general and had two extractions, a root canal and seven fillings. My teeth were fixed but I still felt no better,

This was it, I’d had enough. A person can only tolerate so much pain. I had rights and I thought everyone knew fresh air was an essential element to sustain human life, not toxic fumes. I searched frantically for something tangible to prove my case and I finally saw it in my mask manual in small print t. Do not use if the oxygen levels are less than 19.5%. What oxygen levels!

I rang OSH (Occupational Health and Safety) and was informed to discontinue with the mask if breathing was obstructive after ten minutes. They also suggested I take

twenty minutes breaks (tried that) and obtain Material Safety Data Sheets’ from my suppliers. I only got two MSDS and they alone were telling me what I had feared the most about the dangerous chemicals I was using.

I had now been at my job for 11 months and management was still doing nothing to create a safe working environment for me. So I took it upon myself to do so. I found and ordered approved non-toxic pens and ink and insisted that OSH come and inspect my work area.

Five days before OSH finally came to do an inspection management moved my whole work area to another room! My exposure was not able to be measured. OSH made an appointment for the following week to be interviewed for solvent toxicity.

 August 96 my health really started going backwards and my work was being  seriously affected. Then one day I suddenly felt very odd. Everything seemed to go quiet in my body, pain doubled me over and I began gasping for air - it felt like my lungs were spasming. My vision was blurry and I was having trouble staying alert. My head hurt, I was very confused and seemed to be fighting to stay awake. I deperately needed water my throat was so dry. I thought I was going to die. A fellow staff member found ne collapsed on the floor and talking in iddles.

That same day, I saw two GPs and did ne interview at OSH. The incident had not een reported! On my ACC form it read, Occupational Exposure to Toxic Fumes with

Systemic Side Effects’ .... ‘confined space injury from using industrial inks, sprays and paints’. I have not been back to work since that horrible day.

At last I had acknowledgement of the cause of my problems, but I was soon to learn that my battle had only just begun. I now faced the ACC system. There was no category for my claim and further more it was up to me to conclusively prove the cause was work related. Doors were closing fast and no one wanted to know, “oh no chemical poisoning - go away”!

My concentration and memory had been severely affected and I found it a daunting thought that it was up to me to research my own problem to prove what I already knew

- my job almost killed me. Where are all the experts, I thought? I wrote letter after letter but only received one reply, Healthy Options!

An appointment was made for Dr Mike Godfrey (toxicologist) to be tested for industrial poisons. I also turned to the Printers Union to get help in locating the ‘Material Safety Data Sheets’ from the Australian suppliers of the inks I used. I found that the inks I used were not in compliance with the NZ legislation (6.1 Hazardous to Worksafe Criteria). The health implications were frightening. The infor­mation from Dr Godfrey confirmed that five chemicals known to be in the ink and three other chemicals were registering high in my liver. These included acetone, benzene, xylene, toulene, triethylchlorine, either family, diesel and mercury. Dr Godfrey started my treatment with some detox drops to tone down my sensitivities, plus selenuim and a formula of vitamin C in high doses.

Meanwhile I was still battling the ACC System. I couldn’t understand how they could dispute what happened? It was becoming clear that all was not as it seemed.

I had then found out that it had been reported that I was drinking (alcohol) immoderately and my employer had altered the ‘Material Safety Data Sheets, omitting the health hazards requested by the GP. No words can describe how guttered, betrayed and angry I felt.

The Union (EPU) got a referral to an occupational specialist on solvents and I underwent a two day neuropsychological assessment. It was confirmed. I had higher cognitive deficits due to my occupation. Five months from the day I collapsed my claim was finally accepted by ACC! I had more than proved my condition and felt that what had happened to me should be used to set a precedent so that no one else should endure such an avoidable disaster.. But, despite the mounting medical evidence and

that I was on the ‘National Register Occupational Diseases’, OSH refused to prosecute my employers.

My full attention was now on my immune system. It had been diagnosed as ‘acutely suppressed’. 'My body was so sensitive that it rejected everything at first For easier assimilation I used liquid supplements, remedies and herbal teas. There was a lot of one month trials and progress was slow at first. My glands flared and my mouth went into chaos - rapid progressing ‘Chronic Marginal Periodontitis’ in an acute stage.

I am now using an immune supportive supplement, a garlic supplement, selenium, 6000mg of vitamin C per day, zinc, iron and food enzymes. I have recently tried a liver tonic which seems to working well. I also take calcium for bone loss, a joint ease supplement, mag phos and other tissue salts, B12 for tremors and a lot homoeopathic remedies. Deep tissue massage has helped. None of these effective supplements and treatments are covered by ACC!

My immune system is now stable and I’m pleased to report that my gums are responding favourably. ACC has also approved rehabilitation for the higher cognitive deficits and there has been on going counselling for ‘Inadvertent Solvent Addiction’. Emotionally I am very flat but who wouldn’t be. My partner and children deserve a medal, there was a lot of hands on care, personally and professionally.

The wheels slowly moved in regards to rules and regulations, but public awareness about this serious problem has increased. Because OSH seems to step back from the problems faced by workers my union has taken the initiative and launched a campaign to promote safety in the workplace. The message is out there that solvents kill people.

But as a parent I have further concerns. Are our children safe at school and at home? Many children use these solvent and alcohol based pens. As parents and teachers we must check the labels. Do they smell? Are they approved non-toxic products?

Suppliers need to see a demand for safer alternatives. Our laws also need to be strengthened and enforced to prevent chemical companies sending their toxic products to NZ. Not one company involved in my case was ever investigated. They alone have a lot to answer for.

I can’t change what happened to me or what I have suffered but I don’t regret for one moment the stand I have made on this issue. I believed in my rights and I fought to defend them. ?

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