Winery worker dies of CO2 inhalation in Spain
18th August 2024
A young winery worker in Spain has died after inhaling carbon dioxide released during fermentation.
The worker, aged 27, was found unconscious at the bodega in Valdepeñas DO, in the province of Cuidad Real last week, according to a report in The Drinks Business.
Medics were sent to the scene, but they could only certify his death, reports say.
The cause of death has been given as inhalation of carbon dioxide released during alcoholic fermentation of the grapes.
The company, Félix Solís, is quoted by Drinks Business as saying: “(The producer) deeply regrets the death of one of our workers are the Ciudad Real (Spain) winery and we would like to express our deepest condolences to the family, who are at our entire disposal.
“At this moment, an investigation has been initiated to know and clarify the circumstances in which such a painful event has taken place. The company is already cooperating with the relevant authorities in this regard.
“We would like to emphasise that Félix Solís scrupulously complies with the occupational risk prevention regulations which are strictly applied in all its facilities.
“Out of respect for the deceased and his loved ones the company will not provide any further information or comment until full clarification of what happened.”
Tufo del vino
The toxic gases released during fermentation are referred to in Spain as ‘tufo del vino’.
The fumes occur when yeasts convert sugars in the grapes into alcohol and release carbon dioxide.
The fumes are only dangerous in the large-scale quantities seen in wineries, and death can occur within a few minutes of exposure, Drinks Business says.
In October last year two winery workers died at a family vineyard in Lanciego, northern Spain and another was hospitalised after taking in toxic fumes.
One worker had slipped and fallen into the fermentation vat and his brother in law rushed to help him, but both were overcome by the toxic fumes, Daily Mail reported at the time.
Another worker died of the same cause, in 2021 in China’s northwestern Xige Estate in Ningxia.
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