Wates fined over carbon monoxide danger
- Published: 21 July 2008 12:40
- Author: Rhiannon Hoyle
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- Last Updated: 21 July 2008 16:34
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Wates Construction "put lives at risk" when it failed to check the gas flues in almost a dozen newly-built homes in Birmingham, a court has heard.
The city's Magistrates' Court was told that occupants of 11 bungalows built by the Surrey-based firm in 2006 were put in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning after their flues were damaged during construction.
The Health and Safety Executive said despite a warning to inspect the flues following the completion of roofing works, the appropriate checks were never undertaken.
The integrity of the warm air flues, which vent through roof ridge terminals, was discovered to have been disrupted in the properties potentially causing a build-up of lethal carbon monoxide in the loft space.
HSE investigating inspector Mike Ford said: "The dangers of damaging flues are well known in the building and refurbishment trade. Such dangerous work, as that seen in Rednal Road, puts lives at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning."
About 25 people die in the UK each year from poisoning caused by appliances and flues that have not been properly installed or maintained.
Wates, who pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act, was fined £7,000 with an additional £2,491 in court costs.
A Wates spokesperson said: "This incident happened two years ago and we immediately made fundamental changes to the way we carry out roofing repairs. We regret the incident.
"Safety is one of our key values and we have taken this issue very seriously in order to ensure it never happens again."
