By Tendai Chisiri
In line with its ‘Zero Agenda’, Seed Co Limited managed to attend to employees who had reacted negatively to a chemical that was used to spray for insects at the business complex last week.
In a press statement, Seed Co Limited said the problem has been contained.
“On Friday 20 June 2025, Management received a report of certain employees who were working at the handpicking shed at our complex in Stapleford having reacted negatively to a chemical that we have always used to spray for insects at the business complex”.
“We want to assure all stakeholders that the incident was attended to promptly through the company’s health and safely incident response protocols. All affected employees received timeous medical attention and were ruled out of danger by health officials by the end of the business day”.
“As Seed Co we remain committed to our ‘Zero Agenda’, which is built on the following key pillars.
Zero injuries in the workplace
Zero occupational health incidents
Zero environmental pollution incidents”.
“These pillars are not just targets; they are guiding principles that shape our operations everyday. The incident at Stapleford serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance, continuous improvement, and accountability in all areas of health, safety and environmental stewardship”.
They thanked the employees, stakeholders and the community for their continued support.
According to workers who spoke on condition of anonymity said contracted workers who were working at the handpicking started to vomit, even vomiting blood and collapsed.
“Some were taken to the company’s clinic whilst others were taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital and we’re placed on oxygen”, the workers revealed.
The incident transpired after a lawn maintenance on Thursday afternoon had sprayed the lawn near the handpicking shed where the workers work. On Friday morning, the technician watered the lawn to allow seepage of the chemical into the lawn.
Shortly after, workers in the shed adjacent to the sprayed lawn started to feel nauseated. One staggered outside to vomit and collapsed. Meanwhile, more fell ill before management was notified.
A bus ferried the sick to the clinic with an ambulance hurrying the seriously affected to Parirenyatwa Hospital.
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