Suspected Gas Inhalation Claims Lives Of Two Harare Council Employees At Sewage Plant

Two City of Harare employees tragically died on Thursday while performing routine maintenance at the Firle sewage treatment plant in Glenview, reportedly from inhalation of hydrogen sulphide gas.

The deceased, both sewage works attendants, were stationed at the plant, which is the largest in Harare, with a design capacity of 144,000 cubic metres per day.

The facility treats wastewater from Greater Harare, including discharges from domestic and industrial sources.

The Harare City Council confirmed the deaths and said police, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), and council officials are investigating the incident.

Sewage treatment plants generate gases such as methane, which can be explosive when mixed with air, and hydrogen sulphide, a toxic gas with a strong, foul odour.

Other hazardous gases, including ammonia and carbon dioxide, can displace oxygen and cause asphyxiation.

Additional chemicals used in the plant, such as chlorine or ozone, may also contribute to toxicity.

According to sources quoted by NewsDay, the hydrogen sulphide may have leaked from clogged pumps while the workers carried out maintenance tasks. The source, who requested anonymity, said:

“We lost two workers due to a gas attack while trying to unblock clogged tanks at Firle sewage works.

“While conducting periodic maintenance work, the workers were trying to remove the grit that had choked the pumps.

“The gas must have leaked. In wastewater treatment, when waste degrades, it forms hydrogen sulphide.”

The source added that following the deaths, the Harare City Council’s human resources department and the Firle plant superintendent promptly notified the wastewater technical team. Added the source:

“The technical team was informed by human resources and the plant superintendent about the unfortunate incident.

“Where were the gas masks and gas detectors? These plants are dilapidated and need to be rehabilitated.”

This is not the first incident of its kind. In November 2024, two council workers in Gweru’s Athlone neighbourhood suffocated after entering a manhole filled with toxic gases.

More: NewsDay