A building company has been prosecuted after a family were hospitalised due to being exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) at their home in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester.

SJW Joinery & Building Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 8(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. It has been fined £6,000 with £4,298 in cost.

In addition, company director Simon Wiley also pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 8 (1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, as well as Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was sentenced to 200 hours community service and ordered to pay £4,298 in costs.

Manchester (Minshull Street) Crown Court heard that the building firm and Mr Wiley had been contracted by the homeowners to carry out building work at their property.


A single storey extension had been erected around parts of the house. The roof of that extension had been built over the existing flue to the boiler, leading to it venting into an enclosed space. This resulted in products of combustion of the boiler, including the toxic and odourless gas carbon monoxide, building up in the extension and entering the house.

The family of four were taken to hospital with CO poisoning, however they each made a full recovery.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation after being notified by National Grid of the incident.

HSE found that building plans relating to the work showed the risks of carbon monoxide exposure had not been considered during the planning stage. Subsequently, the work was carried out without the builders having considered these risks to the residents.

HSE inspector Ian Betley said: "This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply ensuring that a suitable assessment was carried out and appropriate control measures put in place. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards."

(LM)