A security guard died from carbon monoxide poisoning inside a makeshift office at a construction site in Scotland, which didn’t have adequate ventilation.
Alpha Group Security Ltd had been contracted to provide security for a new housing development at Ann Street, Burnbank, Hamilton. The company had installed a portable petrol-power generator inside one of the flats, which was being used as a base for employees.
The generator was operated inside the flat without appropriate ventilation and on 6 February 2008, one of the firm’s security guards, Thomas Fraser, was overcome by a build-up of carbon monoxide fumes and died.
Alpha Group Security appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on 4 June and pleaded guilty to breaching s2 and s33(a) of the HSWA 1974 and was fined a total of £7000. No costs are awarded in Scotland.
In mitigation, the firm said it had no previous convictions and deeply regretted the incident. Following the incident it immediately removed the generator and ensured that the site’s developers restored mains power to the flat.
HSE inspector Adrian Tinson said: “This tragic incident should never have happened. It is the clear duty of those who create risks to manage them and to implement safe systems of work.
“This means clear instructions should be provided to contractors and operators and checks made to ensure they understand them.
“Responsible management of risk should have ensured the safe set-up and use of the portable petrol generator in a well-ventilated area, which could have avoided this unnecessary death.”
In March 2010, Clyde Valley Housing Association Ltd, which subcontracted Alpha Group Security Ltd, was fined £70,000 after pleading guilty to a charge under s3(1) of the HSWA 1974, in relation to the same incident.
Approaches to managing the risks associated Musculoskeletal disorders
In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, we hear from Matt Birtles, Principal Ergonomics Consultant at HSE’s Science and Research Centre, about the different approaches to managing the risks associated with Musculoskeletal disorders.
Matt, an ergonomics and human factors expert, shares his thoughts on why MSDs are important, the various prevalent rates across the UK, what you can do within your own organisation and the Risk Management process surrounding MSD’s.
