HC Deb 23 December 1937 vol 330 c2198W
Sir J. Withers

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the evidence given at an inquest held at Brighton on 1st December, 1937, that a girl was killed by phosgene gas caused by the use of a chemical for extinguishing a fire at an engineering works; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent similar accidents in future?

Sir S. Hoare

I understand that the fire started at an electric heater and that the extinguisher used was of a type particularly suitable for electrical fires. Unfortunately the girl had run into an inner room where she was exposed to the fumes and the window was shut. It is fairly well known that extinguishers of this type are liable to produce poisonous fumes and that their use in confined spaces should, therefore, be avoided where possible; and the point is specially mentioned in the Home Office pamphlet on Fire Protection in Factories, where there is a table indicating advantages and disadvantages of various types of extinguishers in different circumstances. I will consider what further steps I can usefully take, but the unfortunate death of this girl appears to have been due to an exceptional combination of circumstances.