Bishopbriggs, Scotland – Families are pursuing damages claims against East Dunbartonshire Council following a carbon monoxide leak at Balmuildy Primary School in 2019, alleging a systemic failure in the maintenance and safety inspection of school heating systems. The incident prompted the evacuation of Balmuildy and, within weeks, two other schools in the area due to similar leaks.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed a leaking boiler in Balmuildy’s plant room, with an open and unsealed access hatch allowing carbon monoxide to spread throughout the school.Critically, the HSE report found “no system in place for the pro-active management of the gas heating/boiler systems nor was there any system in place for safety inspections/checks to be completed” prior to the incident.
A witness statement to the HSE detailed that while the problem was flagged in october 2019 and contractors were tasked with safety checks, schools in the Bishopbriggs area remained uninspected at the time of the balmuildy leak. Subsequent safety checks across the school estate revealed “extensive repairs” were needed, further indicating a broader failure in the ongoing repair and inspection program.
Thompsons Solicitors is representing 29 cases related to the leak. Senior partner Patrick McGuire stated, “We are talking about some of the most basic checks that you or I would do on our gas boilers to make sure our own homes are safe.” He added that families are seeking “the truth” and have turned to legal action due to a perceived lack of transparency from the council.
East Dunbartonshire Council Chief Executive Ann davie stated that parents and carers were kept informed during the incident through multiple channels, and that the boiler was immediatly decommissioned and the HSE notified. She confirmed that complete safety measures were implemented and a “rigorous monitoring regime” is now in place, but declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. The council has as implemented a system to automatically flag required work and statutory testing.
