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A Hamilton woman says her employers were deaf to her pleas as workplace solvents began to poison her. Sue McCabe investigates
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Job Blamed for Poisioning |
New Zealand Herald 9 MAY 1997 |
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HAMILTON — A former supermarket worker is exploring the possibility of legal action against her employer for failing to stop her becoming addicted to solvents. Faye Snows chronic solvent poisoning has left her with severe health problems, including chronic fatigue, affected speech, slowed brain functioning, memory and concentration deficits, mood swings, bladder infections and chronic periodontitis. Specialists say her problems are consistent with chronic solvent poisoning and the ACC has accept that her condition developed at work. Tier condition began when she worked as a sign and ticket writer for a Hamilton supermarket in 1995. She says she worked in a small room with no ventilation, except when she left the door open. Her tools included felt-tipped pens, industrial ink, aerosol spray and acrylic paints. She says that when she started developing skin irritations and health problems she repeatedly asked management to improve her working conditions, to no avail. Staff members used to joke about going to "Faye’s room to get high” as she developed increasingly severe aches and pains, eye and teeth problems. She started drinking, passed blood when she urinated and blood clots shot out her nose when she sneezed. She deteriorated to the point where she had memory loss, and walked around like a “zombie in a daze". Workmates, her partner three children reported a huge change in her personality. On August 5 last year staff found her sitting on the floor, talking in riddles. She had tunnel vision and felt, herself going into a “black void.” Since then she has not been back to work and has been battling for recognition of her problem and compensation. She now receives earnings-related compensation front ACC and heard this week that they would pay for a 13-week rehabilitation course. Yesterday her dentist confirmed she had acute periodontitis. ACC was waiting for this report. to decide whether to compensate her for the thousands of dollars in dental bills she faces. Faye Snow said her lawyer was also waiting for this report. to decide whether she had a case against the employer. The employer declined to comment on her allegations. The New Zealand herald also talked to parents of Faye Snow's predecessor, who, after two years of complaining to management about her work conditions, finally had her application to be transferred to office work granted. |
The former employee is now living in Australia. but her mother. Dee Cumming, said she was horrified at the work conditions. Her (lalIgliter came home with a headache every night, she said. Despite her problems, Faye Snow is positive about her future. and says she is progressing better than expected. Staff members used to joke about going to "Faye’s room to get high” as she developed increasingly severe aches and pains, eye and teeth problems. She started drinking, passed blood when she urinated and blood clots shot out her nose when she sneezed. She deteriorated to the point where she had memory loss, and walked around like a “zombie in a daze". Workmates, her partner three children reported a huge change in her personality. On August 5 last year staff found her sitting on the floor, talking in riddles. She had tunnel vision and felt, herself going into a “black void.” Since then she has not been back to work and has been battling for recognition of her problem and compensation. She now receives earnings-related compensation front ACC and heard this week that they would pay for a 13-week rehabilitation course. Yesterday her dentist confirmed she had acute periodontitis. ACC was waiting for this report. to decide whether to compensate her for the thousands of dollars in dental bills she faces. Faye Snow said her lawyer was also waiting for this report. to decide whether she had a case against the employer. The employer declined to comment on her allegations. The New Zealand herald also talked to parents of Faye Snow's predecessor, who, after two years of complaining to management about her work conditions, finally had her application to be transferred to office work granted. The former employee is now living in Australia. but her mother. Dee Cumming, said she was horrified at the work conditions. Her (lalIgliter came home with a headache every night, she said. Despite her problems, Faye Snow is positive about her future. and says she is progressing better than expected. |
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