Fourteen workers have been hospitalized following suspected exposure to hydrogen sulphide at the Bayswater Power Station in Muswellbrook, New South Wales. All have since been medically cleared and released, according to energy supply operator AGL.
The incident occurred on October 24, with an initial report of seven workers being assessed by paramedics, four of whom were hospitalized. AGL confirmed that the total number of hospitalized workers had risen to 14. The exact source of the exposure has yet to be confirmed, and the power station's output has not been impacted.
SafeWork NSW has launched an investigation and is in daily contact with AGL. NSW Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis stated she is receiving regular briefings on the situation.
The Bayswater Power Station, opened in 1985, is a coal-fired facility with a capacity of 2,715 megawatts. It is scheduled to close by the end of 2033 as part of AGL's Climate Transition Action Plan.
Hydrogen sulphide is a toxic, flammable, colorless gas with a characteristic rotten egg smell. Exposure can lead to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, and irritation of the eyes and respiratory system. Higher concentrations can impair the sense of smell, and inhaling significant levels can rapidly result in loss of consciousness and death.
