NEW Zealand could introduce a licensing scheme for acr contractors in a number of measures discussed following the fatal IcePak coldstore explosion in Tamahere in 2008.
On the second day of the inquest into the death of fireman Derek Lovell, Department of Labour inspector Keith Stewart revealed that his department had subsequently held meetings with representatives of New Zealand's Institute of Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers (IRHACE) and other industry bodies.
The Institute has confirmed that it has joined with the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (RACCA) to develop a training and licensing scheme for industry.
Senior firefighter Derek Lovell died and seven other officers were seriously injured when leaking gas ignited while the team was investigating an automatic fire alarm in April 5, 2008.
Firefighters were unaware that the plant had been retrofitted to use Hychill-50, a highly flammable 95%/5% propane/ethane mix.
'At that time we were quite familiar with refrigeration services - we knew of ammonia and freon, but no one had heard of hydrocarbon refrigerants,' New Zealand Fire Service director of operations and training Paul McGill told the coroner.
