Council fined following CO leak at primary school

A Scottish local authority has been fined more than £13,000 after a carbon monoxide leak at a primary school in Bishopbriggs.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that a number of staff and pupils at Balmuildy Primary School reported feeling ill in February 2020, experiencing symptoms including headaches and nausea.

Throughout the day, several pupils were sent home and staff had to take medication to relieve their symptoms. The following day, testing for a gas leak revealed high levels of carbon monoxide present in areas of the school. The building was immediately evacuated.

An investigation by HSE in conjunction with Gas Safe Register investigators found that one of the two auxiliary gas boilers at the site was leaking carbon monoxide into the boiler room and the school buildings. The investigation found this was due to a lack of maintenance.

If the faults with the boiler had been found before the incident through the required routine maintenance, it would have been classed as Immediately Dangerous. This would have necessitated the disconnection of the gas boiler until it was repaired.

East Dunbartonshire Council of Strathkelvin Place, Kirkintilloch, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 35 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. The council was fined £13,333 plus a victim surcharge of £999.98.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Stuart Easson said: “This is the second time in five years that East Dunbartonshire Council have been handed a significant fine for failing to protect employees and children at a primary school under their control.

“Although nobody suffered any serious adverse effects during this incident, we hope that this prosecution demonstrates that HSE will not hesitate to take action and that failures of this nature are simply not acceptable.”