Building firm fined for CO fumes

Article date : 11/08/2010

A construction firm that failed to contact a Gas Safe registered professional to carry out gas fitting work has been fined.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that Rushi Construction, owned by Vikas Patel, had been employed to build an extension at a Buckinghamshire home which was constructed around a gas boiler flue outlet.

Mr Patel used a sewage pipe and a washing machine hose in an attempt to extend the outlet out of the window but this failed and carbon monoxide (CO) fumes were released into the premises.

He was asked to leave by the clients, who then contacted the National Grid and had their gas supply disconnected.

The company and Mr Patel were subsequently fined a total of £15,000.

HSE inspector Stephen Manley said: "Everybody involved in construction work ... must think about the effect it may have on the safe operation of existing services such as gas appliances and flues."

CO fumes can prove deadly when inhaled and may even be fatal.

Britons are advised that they must always contact a boiler engineer from the Gas Safe register who is properly qualified to carry out the work when they need anything done that involves their gas appliances.

Written by Jasper Cullen

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