School appliances left unchecked

A Devon council has been accused of putting school children at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning or explosions after gas appliances were unchecked.

Plymouth City Council was fined £5,000 by city magistrates for failing to make checks on its 87 schools between July 2003 and October 2005.

The alarm was raised in 2006 after flaws found at Hyde Park Junior School.

The council said it recognised the "gravity" of the offences and all its schools had now been checked,

Failure to take this duty seriously can result in terrible injury or death HSE inspector Melissa Lai-Hung

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation was prompted by a report of a dangerous gas boiler at Hyde Park Junior School's kitchen.

It later found defective gas appliances at a number of schools.

Plymouth City Council admitted breaking gas safety regulations and was also ordered to pay costs of £6,500.

The court heard that inspections had "slipped through the net" after the maintenance contract for inspections was transferred from the Architectural Services Department to the Lifelong Learning Department.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Melissa Lai-Hung said: "All employers, including councils, have a duty of care towards their employees and members of the public - including pupils and school staff, as in this case.

"Failure to take this duty seriously can result in terrible injury or death."

The council said in a statement: "We recognise the gravity of the charges and accept that these were a serious oversight caused by an administrative error.

"Once they came to light, the appropriate repairs were made immediately and new systems and contracts brought in to ensure checks are carried out on a regular basis."

It added: "The council takes the safety and wellbeing of its staff and the public very seriously."