Carbon Monoxide in cellar nearly kills employee

Posted on Friday 11th February 2011

An employee using a petrol driven jet wash in an underground cellar with limited ventilation almost died after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning in May 2010.  Stuart Andrews, licensee of the Bull and Lion Pub in Packington admitted breaching health and safety legislation in a prosecution by North West Leicestershire DC in January 2011. The employee complained of headaches after doing the work over a number of days and then became unconscious.  Investigation by the Council EHOs found there was no risk assessment for the use of the petrol driven jet wash, the licensee had failed to protect people exposed to risks from his business and failed to provide suitable equipment for the job.  Mr Andrews was fined £1500. (EHN 28/01/11 issue 02 p17)

The lesson for your business is that risk assessments are there for a reason. They identify hazards and evaluate risk to people.  They will determine if a task can be done safely and what training or equipment is required.  Failure to assess risks in the worst scenario results in death. Working with fumes in confined spaces such as this cellar requires careful assessment of the task which in this case was neglected.