Gas death sparks checks on homes

Gas flues are to be checked in 17,000 homes in Huddersfield

Health and safety inspectors are to check 17,000 homes in West Yorkshire after a 10-year-old boy died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Dominic Rodgers was found dead in his bedroom in Spaines Road, Fartown, Huddersfield, in February.

The gas that led to his death is thought to have seeped through the floor of his room as he slept.

The Health and Safety Executive says similarly-built homes in the area are to be checked to avert another tragedy.

It has joined forces with Kirklees Council and Dominic's mother, Stacey Rodgers, to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide in the homes near the Rodgers' house.

HM Inspector of Health and Safety David Powell said: "However unlikely the combination of events were that may have led to Dominic's tragic death, we need to be sure they can never happen again."

We are advising anyone with a flue terminal in a passageway not to panic Health and safety inspector David Powell

Housing inspectors from Kirklees Council will begin surveying the homes on 12 November and the whole exercise is not expected to be completed before next spring.

They will visit those properties identified as being at risk to carry out visual checks on things like the position of flues and the condition of walls and ceilings within passageways.

"The homes we are particularly keen to find are those which, like Dominic's, are back-to-back and have flues located in their passageways," Mr Powell added.

Inspectors would determine whether further checks or remedial works were necessary and help householders to ensure work was carried out.

"However, we are advising anyone with a flue terminal in a passageway not to panic," Mr Powell stressed.

Kirklees Council urged householders to allow the inspectors access to passageways, but said they would not require access inside anyone's house.