Driver's death brings warnin
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A CORONER has warned that butane gas heaters should never be used in confined spaces after the death of a furniture van driver.
Leslie Boylin, a 30-year-old driver from Enfield, Middlesex, was found dead in his cab. He had been poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes while sleeping in his vehicle.
Recording a verdict of misadventure, Wigan coroner David Blakey said: "This must serve as a warning to others that this type of heater must not be used where there is poor ventilation.
Police broke into the cab after Brian Caswell, manager of Blundeils Furniture, in Wigan, raised the alarm.
Mr Boylin was due to deliver to the shop. Mr Caswell said he became worried after arriving for work to find the van parked outside. When the driver failed to appear after several hours he called the police.
Pc Kenneth Smith said that forcing his way into the van he found the heater still burning and the body nearby.
This accident and one last year in which a Liverpool driver died led the recently retired Transport and General Workers Union Liverpool district haulage secretary, Bob Robinson, to highlight the extreme dangers of these heaters (CM, March 2).
He pointed out that drivers are in extreme danger once there is only 20 per cent carbon monoxide in their cab, and urged drivers not to use them as an alternative to sleeping in overnight accommodation.
"How many drivers sleep in their cabs to obtain a taxfree gain of £10 to £12 a night?" he asked.