Motorsport organiser admits safety breaches after people fell ill from carbon monoxide poisoning at Stafford event

Motorsport with Attitude Limited pleaded guilty to five offences following the indoor live action car event held at the town’s County Showground in February of last year.

The Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the Weston Road venue following complaints about spectators feeling unwell. High levels of carbon monoxide were detected inside the main arena.

The showground was evacuated and the event cancelled, with the incident investigated by Stafford Borough Council.

Company director David Rennie appeared before magistrates in Cannock last week and pleaded guilty on behalf of Motorsport with Attitude Ltd to five charges relating to the incident.

The charges were failing to: have a valid risk assessment, to ensure the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work were adequate to deal with carbon monoxide build-up, to ensure the provision and maintenance of a working environment for employees, to prepare and revise a written statement of a general policy with respect to the health and safety at work and to make a suitable as sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment.

The case was adjourned until April for sentencing at Cannock Magistrates Court.

Councillor Ian Fordham, cabinet member for environment at Stafford Borough Council, said: “The safety of our community is one of our top priorities and people going to this type of car racing event must be confident that the organisers have all the checks and balances in place for it to run safely.

“I am pleased that after our thorough investigation, the company has admitted it failed to have all those correct safety procedures in place.”

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