Handyman dismissed after accidentally creating mustard gas

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 13 Oct, 20:08 · Archive

A handyman was fairly dismissed after accidentally creating mustard gas at a university swimming pool and gym, an employment tribunal found.

Anthony Brown was dismissed from his job with facilities management company Pinnacle FM Limited following an incident on 12 October 2024 at the University of Hertfordshire. An employment tribunal found his dismissal was fair, ruling that he had 'wilfully breached health and safety rules'.

Brown was responsible for topping up chemicals and testing pool water when the incident occurred. He wedged open a chlorine tap with a piece of wood before answering a phone call and stepping outside. On his return, he discovered the tank had overflowed. He then found another spillage in a different room containing sodium bisulphate. While attempting to clean both spillages using a liquid vacuum cleaner and flushing with water, Brown inadvertently started a chemical reaction that produced mustard gas.

Brown began to feel the side effects and alerted his manager. The fire service was called and the university's swimming pool and gym were evacuated. Brown was checked by paramedics. The facility was later declared safe and reopened. An internal investigation concluded that although Brown had a 'long, unblemished service', his actions had constituted a serious breach of health and safety that could have been avoided. He was dismissed on 26 November 2024.

How it is being reported

• Handyman sacked for ‘inadvertently’ flooding pool and gym with mustard gasThey had to be evacuated.Metro · 13 Oct, 19:59
• Swimming pool evacuated after handyman mistakenly releases mustard gasThe fire service was called as the pool and gym were being evacuatedThe Independent · 13 Oct, 16:36
• Handyman accidentally made mustard gas and caused university gym evacuationThe fire service was called as the pool and gym were being evacuatedThe Independent · 13 Oct, 12:27

In this story: Anthony Brown · Pinnacle FM Limited · University of Hertfordshire

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