Housing society fined for fatal boiler explosion

A housing society was today fined £50,000 for health and safety breaches leading to a boiler explosion that killed a woman and her dog.

Christine Goodall, 65, died in November 2007 when the iron boiler behind her fireplace, which had not been properly decommissioned, blew apart.

Mrs Goodall, of Tywning, near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, died along with dog Kelly after water in the boiler heated up when she lit a log fire, causing the equipment to explode.

Severn Vale Housing Society Ltd which wrote the work specification for plumber Matthew Lee, 41, bore the brunt of the responsibility.

Gloucester Crown Court judge William Hart also ordered the not-for-profit organisation to pay £7,500 costs.

Mr Lee was fined £7,500, with £1,500 costs.

Severn Vale Housing Society and Lee both pleaded guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.