The FFAW say a recent incident at the fish plant in Fortune highlights the need for improved Occupational Health and Safety Regulations in the province’s fish plants.

The union says four workers at the OCI plant were taken to hospital January 15th with what was identified as carbon monoxide poisoning.

All four workers were treated and released from hospital on the same day, however one continued to suffer symptoms into the second day.

Occupational Health and Safety is investigating.

Industrial Director with the FFAW, Greg Pretty, claims the workers “barely escaped with their lives.”

He called for more stringent fish plant inspections and points to what he says appears to be a two-tiered approach to worker safety, one for urban areas, and a less stringent one for rural areas.

The union says it has been calling on government to implement a safety sector council for processing plants in the province for over five years.