Northvolt urged employees to work despite the gas leak

Published 17 August 2024 at 09.56

Domestic. The politically-profiled battery manufacturer Northvolt urged its employees to continue working despite a serious gas leak at the company's factory. It reveals Ekot.

Share the article

TwittraShare

Northvolt has once again found itself in a storm after an audit by Ekot revealed a lack of safety associated with high levels of ammonia at the company's factory earlier this year.

Despite the dangerous levels, staff were told to continue working, according to an internal message.

The company has set its own limit of 500 ppm ammonia, which is ten times higher than the Work Environment Authority's recommendations.

Elias, one of the employees, expresses concern about the company's handling.

– It is risking our safety, he tells Ekot and compares it to previous incidents where the work was immediately stopped.

Northvolt's management regrets the situation but believes that the staff's concern may have been increased by the media coverage.

– I think it is very sad that we have employees who feel that way, says Emma Nehrenheim, a member of the company's management team, to Ekot.

She assures that the protective equipment provided is sufficient, even though the company's limit value deviates significantly from the Norwegian Work Environment Authority's rules.