Gas leak not cause of death at smelter

A SULPHUR dioxide gas leak was not responsible for the death of Nyrstar zinc smelter worker Michael Petterwood, a coroner has found.

The 59-year-old father collapsed and died at the Lutana smelter on September 25 last year.

At the time, concerns were raised about the possibility the Risdon Vale man, who had worked there for 32 years, had been overcome by sulphur dioxide emissions — which can be fatal if inhaled.

However, an autopsy the following day found he died from a heart attack, most likely due to atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

But because blood testing couldn’t confirm whether Mr Petterwood had been exposed to sulphur dioxide — and because levels of the gas in his work area were recorded as “excessively high” after his collapse — the case was subject to an investigation.

In February this year, evidence from the pathologist, Nyrstar, WorkSafe Tasmania and police was brought before Coroner Olivia McTaggart, who decided an inquest would not be held after deeming Mr Petterwood died of natural causes.

In her findings, released yesterday, Ms McTaggart said analysis of sulphur dioxide emissions before the man’s collapse were within “normal operating parameters”.

“There was no harmful level of sulphur dioxide in the area of his work at the relevant time, and the subsequent emissions of this gas did not play any part in his cause of death,” Ms McTaggart said.