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Mystery fumes cause panic at CSO again

Published:Wednesday | May 15, 2019 | 12:27 AM
Two persons assist a woman into an ambulance yesterday morning after mysterious fumes caused some workers at the South Camp Road-based Central Sorting Office to fall ill with irregular breathing and fainting spells. Operations at the post office were suspended for the remainder of the day, while those at the Sutherland Global call centre on the compound were resumed after receiving clearance from the Jamaica Fire Brigade.
Two persons assist a woman into an ambulance yesterday morning after mysterious fumes caused some workers at the South Camp Road-based Central Sorting Office to fall ill with irregular breathing and fainting spells. Operations at the post office were suspended for the remainder of the day, while those at the Sutherland Global call centre on the compound were resumed after receiving clearance from the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

It was a case of déjà vu yesterday as noxious fumes disrupted operations at the Jamaica Post’s Central Sorting Office (CSO) and a Sutherland Global BPO office along South Camp Road in Kingston.

According to one employee at the CSO, from as early as 10 a.m., workers were being affected by the fumes, resulting in panic as some staff members fainted. Fifteen persons, including two pregnant women, were taken to hospital for check-up.

Public relations officer at the Fire Brigade, Emeleo Ebanks, told The Gleaner yesterday evening that the source of the fumes remained a mystery.

“I can’t tell you what caused it, except for the fact that we got a call about noxious fumes, and we responded and evacuated the building. We gave the green light for the call centre persons to return to work. However, the CSO remained closed. We are continuing our investigation,” he said.

Operations at the location have been interrupted several times in recent years because of noxious fumes.

jason.cross@gleanerjm.com