More deaths on building site
15 January 2007
Three workers found dead in building site container
Three workers have been found dead in a shipping container on a building site in Berkshire. The bodies of Kirpal Singh, 30, Manjit Singh, 35 and 21-year-old Gurdeep Singh Deol, from Southall, Middlesex, were found on the morning of 22 December at the site where St James Homes is building a multi-million pound urban village in Manor Farm Road, Whitley. Initial tests showed the men died from carbon monoxide poisoning. One theory is that instead of going home on Thursday the trio spent the night in the container, using a portable generator to help them keep warm, and were overcome by its fumes. Police family liaison officers have spoken to workmates and employers and contacted relatives. A Health and Safety Executive investigation is under way. Tony Pidgley, a spokesperson for St James Homes said: 'To have three deaths at any time is a real tragedy, but it takes on special significance at this time of year and our thoughts go out their friends and family. We will do all we can to co-operate with the investigation.'