Seven workers are taking Inverclyde Royal bosses to court to settle a dispute over ‘deadly’ carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty boiler.
Our sister publication The Greenock Telegraph reported last August that staff fell ill after being exposed to a gas leak on the ground floor of the hospital for months.
Three months later, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde admitted responsibility – but negotiations over payouts have now halted.
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Thompson Solicitors, who are acting on behalf of the porters and store room workers affected, are now waiting for a hearing date at the All Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
Solicitor Laura Connor said: “The workers are very angry about this. Their lives were greatly affected by being exposed to this for approximately six months.
“They feel let down that the health board, their employers, are not recognising the severity of the injuries they sustained.”
The workers say they were left with severe ill health, including dizziness and sickness.
Thompsons decided to go to court because they considered some compensation offers to be ‘inadequate’.
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The firm said that in other cases, the health board ignored the claims.
Some of the people affected no longer work for the board.
Solicitor Ms Connor added: “I am very, very surprised that it has come to this.
“It is a very clear cut case.
“The boiler was faulty and people were ill.
“I am also concerned that this is not cost appropriate and it is dragging out. We have launched court proceedings made to ensure we are acting in our clients’ best interests and in an effort to secure justice.”
The alarm over the poisoning was raised by union
representatives who reported concerns about staff feeling unwell at work.
The health board said they took action immediately when they were made aware of the issue, with the boiler taken out of commission and a full investigation instigated by health and safety experts.
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They also said that the gas boiler plant and associated flue had been maintained and inspected in accordance with gas safety regulations.
No comment was available from NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.
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