The organiser of a motorsport event in Stafford that had to be evacuated after people fell ill from carbon monoxide poisoning has been told to pay more than £60,000 following an investigation by the Borough Council.

Sentencing Motorsport with Attitude Limited (MWA) today (Fri 4 July) Judge Kevin Grego said the company had been either ‘cavalier’ in its approach to safety or ‘naïve in the extreme.’

The court was told that Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the County Showground after complaints about spectators feeling unwell - and recorded high levels of carbon monoxide inside the main arena. The Showground was evacuated and the indoor live action car event cancelled - although the company wanted to continue the show in a ‘modified format.’

Seventeen people required hospital treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning - and the court was told it nearly tipped the hospital into a major incident.

The Borough Council investigated the incident and charged the motorsport business with offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.  

Lucy Taylor-Grime, prosecuting for the Borough Council, said MWA had a duty to inform the local authority prior to the car show taking place - but the first the council was informed was when the emergency services called them that afternoon.

She said the company had ignored advice in an email marked ’Urgent Information’ on the eve of the event that said the arrangements for the extraction of fumes required urgent attention as the air quality was well below the acceptable levels.

She continued: “Seventeen people presented at hospital and were released after treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning. This could have been much worse - although if the council had been informed prior to the event this situation could have been avoided.”  

The court in Cannock heard that in an interview with Environmental Health Officers the company’s director, David Rennie, said an event marshall who had fallen ill looked as if he was ‘putting it on’ - describing the man’s appearance as like ‘an eight-year-old who doesn’t want to go to school.’  

The carbon monoxide readings were said to be ‘far beyond’ the safety level. Fans used by the company were inadequate and flags and obstacles were in the way of the carbon monoxide monitoring equipment.

Mr Rennie, pleaded guilty to five charges on behalf of Motorsport with Attitude Ltd relating to the incident in February 2024 for failing to:

• Have a valid risk assessment
• Ensure the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work were adequate to deal with carbon monoxide build-up.  
• Ensure the provision and maintenance of a working environment for your employees
• Prepare and revise a written statement of his general policy with respect to the health and safety at work  
• Make a suitable as sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of persons not in your employment  

They were fined and ordered to pay costs totalling £61,645.78.  

Lucy Wright, representing the company, said there would be no attempt made by them to mitigate or diminish the suffering to those involved and they had fallen short in their duties.

She added the company expressed remorse for what had happened and described them as having been ‘woefully unprepared’ in discharging their duties regarding safety.    

District Judge Grego said “There was no proper risk assessment. Flags and obstacles were placed to prevent the carbon monoxide monitors working effectively. Seventeen people were taken to hospital suffering the effects associated with carbon monoxide poisoning. The hospital coped more by good fortune. Normally that many people suddenly presenting to A&E would cause a major incident to be declared.

“The company was either cavalier in its approach to the issue of ensuring the safety of its staff, customers and others. If not cavalier then it was naive in the extreme.

“It is clear the company was on notice as to the problems over ventilation and emissions – it was an event involving vehicles with powerful engines with the obvious exhaust emissions in an enclosed space.

“The only reason there were not very serious cases of poisoning or worse is that the emergency services insisted the event be stopped. The company through Mr Rennie were content to continue. Thankfully that view was not allowed to prevail.”

After the case, Gill McMullin, Senior Environmental Health officer at the Borough Council, said: “We want organisers to run fantastic events in our borough that bring people to the area and provide a boost to the local economy. People going to this type of motorsport event must be confident that the organisers have all the checks and balances in place for it to run safely.

“The safety of our community is a priority and we will not hesitate to prosecute any business that does not follow the proper procedures to keep the public safe. We are pleased that, after our thorough investigation, the company admitted it failed to have all those correct safety procedures in place.” 

Press Release No 6223