The government has ordered the closure of an auto body shop in a ground floor unit in Travessa do Armazém Velho (爛鬼樓) after discovering that the ventilation facilities there failed to meet the official requirements because of which excessive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) accumulated when vehicles were being spray painted.
The workshop will only be allowed to resume operation after completing the required improvements to its ventilation facilities.
The government made the announcement on Tuesday in a statement jointly issued by five bureaus, namely the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), the Financial Services Bureau (DSF), the Fire Services Bureau (CB), the Health Bureau (SSM), and the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA).
The joint statement noted that the operation of the bodyshop had recently resulted in two cases in which residents living nearby felt unwell after inhaling unknown gas, because of which officials and officers from the five bureaus inspected the workshop on Monday.
According to previous news reports, three people who had performed spray painting in an auto body shop in Travessa do Armazém Velho felt unwell on October 23 and were taken to hospital for treatment. On Thursday last week, three people living nearby came down with carbon monoxide poisoning after walking past the auto body shop, which is located on the ground floor of Sak I Building, and were taken to hospital for treatment. Firefighters recorded a carbon monoxide level of 15 ppm in the workshop on Thursday last week.
Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), Financial Services Bureau (DSF), Fire Services Bureau (CB), Health Bureau (SSM), and Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) officials inspectan auto body shop in Travessa do Armazém Velho on Monday. Photos: IAM/DSF/CB/SSM/DSPA
A man working for a third-party testing institution, the Macau Institute for the Development and Quality (IDQ), tests sample taken from the auto body shop for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on Monday.
