Union wants Affco Moerewa's boiler shut until it's satisfied it's safe

The boiler room at Affco's Moerewa plant where a man was seriously injured in an explosion last month and where E tū says there is a culture of fear stopping workers raising concerns.

A union representing some workers at Affco's Moerewa meat works wants the plant's boiler shut down and claims a culture of fear at the site is stopping staff raising health and safety concerns for "fear of intimidation or losing their jobs".

E tū union has written to WorkSafe asking it to urgently respond to what it claims is a second incident involving the boiler at Affco's Moerewa meat works, which seriously injured a boilerman in an incident last month.

The man is being treated for serious burns in Middlemore Hospital after an explosion in the boiler room on July 20 when a 31-year-old man was left with serious injuries. The union wants the boiler shut down until both accidents are fully investigated.

The Northern Advocate has approached AFFCO for comment on the union's claims. However, Affco general manager Nigel Stevens said earlier the company was unable to comment until a full investigation had been completed.

E tū Northland organiser Annie Tothill said the latest incident in the boiler room occurred on Monday night.

"We understand coal accumulated in front of the boiler door. Usually someone would open the door to inspect the boiler. But the earlier incident meant the boilerman was hypersensitive and instead shut the boiler down,'' Tothill said.

"I have been told the problem lies with the feeders that feed the boiler with coal. This system is not alarmed so problems are undetectable until pressure reaches a dangerous level. This is serious, and our members fear another appalling accident."

She said Affco told the union the boiler has been checked by an independent professional, "but it appears the assessment failed to spot the feeder was faulty".

Tothill said there is a culture of fear at the plant and workers are too afraid to raise issues for fear of intimidation or losing their jobs.

"Our members have zero confidence in the plant management and it's time WorkSafe took the matter seriously. It needs to act swiftly to ensure the boiler is shut down until both incidents are thoroughly investigated and the causes are fully addressed."

The union has written to Affco demanding it remedy the fault and undertake sustained testing and monitoring to ensure the boiler is safe before it is used again. It has also written to WorkSafe, requesting an urgent assessment by an inspector as well as an assessment of the boiler by a qualified external engineer.