Builder's work on chimney put family at risk

Date:

27 April 2012

A family was exposed to deadly carbon monoxide fumes after building work on a chimney caused a blockage in a flue.

Builder Wayne Marshall had been engaged to carry out repairs to a joint chimney by householders at a property in Dulais Road, Seven Sisters in March 2010, but left an amount of rubble blocking the flue of the neighbouring property, leading to a leak of carbon monoxide.

Neath Port Talbot Magistrates' Court heard yesterday (26 April) that neither Mr Marshall or his subcontractors informed the neighbours, Steve Everett, his wife and daughter, that work had started so they had not turned off their boiler at the bottom of the flue.

The blockage of rubble restricted ventilation for the appliance causing incomplete combustion and the creation of carbon monoxide.

When the family returned home from work they heard their carbon monoxide alarm sounding and had to ventilate their house, leaving windows open all night.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector, Stephen Jones, said:

"This incident could have resulted in multiple fatalities. Anyone in control of rebuilding and renovation works, especially to chimneys and any flues, must take reasonable steps to establish what appliances, such as fires and boilers, are attached to them.

"They must make arrangements with everyone who may be affected to notify them when building works start and finish. This will allow time for the appliances to be extinguished.

"While the work is ongoing they must take reasonable steps to prevent anything from blocking the flue such as debris that may lead to a lack of ventilation and the possibility of carbon monoxide gas arising.

"Thankfully the family had the foresight to buy and fit a carbon monoxide alarm, otherwise they may have entered their home unaware of the danger and eventually been overcome by fumes."

Wayne Marshall, trading as Marshall Enterprises Home Improvements, of St Hillary Drive, Killay, Swansea pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.

Further information on the dangers of carbon monoxide can be found on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/co.htm

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states: It shall be the duty of every self-employed person to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that he and other persons (not being his employees) who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

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