Wandsworth: London Underground is to be prosecuted after a security guard died from carbon monoxide poisoning while on duty in Balham.

Olatunji Owolabi, 59, who lived in Wandsworth, was guarding an empty building in Balham High Road on June 5 last year when he succumbed to poisonous carbon monoxide gas from the exhaust fumes of a petrol generator inside the building.

The generator had been put there to provide lighting because there was no electricity in the building.

The empty building, owned by London Underground, was undergoing cleaning to remove graffiti and was being guarded by Mr Owolabi to stop vandals breaking in.

The prosecution is being brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

At a hearing in October this year, his employer Wilson James Ltd which is also to be prosecuted by the HSE pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of an employee while working alone at the premises.

At the same hearing London Underground pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ensure the premises were safe and without risk to a non-employee.

Wilson James and London Underground will be sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Monday, where they will be fined and ordered to pay court costs.

December 14, 2001 15:00