Autopsy on gold mine employee to determine if his work killed him
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- AN ex-Akara Resources employee was found dead yesterday after suffering from a fatal neurological disease that his family suspects was the result of his long-term exposure to cyanide and other hazardous chemicals.

Somkid Thampawet, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), unloaded cyanide at Akara Resources' gold mine in Phichit's Thab Khlo district for years. He died after being treated for severe muscular weakness at Phichit Hospital for weeks.

The Central Institute of Forensic Science will conduct the autopsy on his body in accordance with his wishes to determine if he had chemical and/or heavy metal traces in his body that could have led to him getting the disease.

Somkid's wife Chamnian Tham-pawet said her husband had worked at the gold mine since its opening, leaving it after 13 years of service.

Somkid started to show ALS symptoms around two years |ago, resulting in him losing his job and not receiving any assistance from the company, she lamented.

"The symptoms of the disease became more serious over time. We were trying to call the company for help but they dodged our pleas every time we asked," Chamnian stated.

She said that after her husband's story was widely publicised in the media, the company offered to pay the family Bt7,000 per month, which could not have been enough to meet Somkid's treatment costs.

She said that five other former gold mine workers have similar symptoms as those suffered by her husband and CIFS will also perform autopsies on their bodies.

CIFS director-general Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan described Somkid's autopsy as a "complicated process" that would take about a month to conclude.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Autopsy-on-gold-mine-employee-to-determine-if-his--30268546.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-11

wait for the day farmers get educated that the thing they are spraying heavely on their crops is nothing less than poison

Cyanide wouldnt causes symptoms like these neurological type symptoms could be from heavy metals such as mercury which is/was used in gold processing but only used by small scale operators these days

Cyanide wouldnt causes symptoms like these neurological type symptoms could be from heavy metals such as mercury which is/was used in gold processing but only used by small scale operators these days

True or not the fact remains that workers are exposed to all manner of toxic substances in workplaces all over the country and the fat cat owners will deny responsibility , stonewall, obfuscate and continue to live 'high on the hog' until the cows come home.

It is pretty predictable what results will be found. Forensic pathology is somewhat tainted here. Even if samples are taken for future reference, those can easily be made to disappear. If they do not allow neutral observers who will follow the trail, the results will always be questionable.

Other hazards could include Arsenic poisoning.

Cyanide wouldnt causes symptoms like these neurological type symptoms could be from heavy metals such as mercury which is/was used in gold processing but only used by small scale operators these days

True or not the fact remains that workers are exposed to all manner of toxic substances in workplaces all over the country and the fat cat owners will deny responsibility , stonewall, obfuscate and continue to live 'high on the hog' until the cows come home.

As you know, all animals are equal, some are just more equal than others. hence the need for Benz & BMW dealers etc. The fat cats will always get to drink the milk when at last the cows come home.

The sheep that work in these hazardous jobs are replaceable (at a small cost, as we have seen (B7000 a month) They are too chicken to stand up for their rights and cry fowl, understandably so, and the management merely ducks these issues when they arise.

It happens everywhere there are poor people, always has, and apparently, always will.

it seems to me the lady has a good claim against the company or they wouldn't be ducking and diving persist dear lady and you should get a good result.