A Near Tragedy at the O2

Is this the first of many accidents to befall the O2? Have they been jinxed? Well, yesterday proved to be near tragic for the O2 staff as they were treated from minor injuries brought on by a gas leak. Who is to blame? How can they ensure that this does not happen again? Why did it happen in the first place? Rumour has it that measures could have been taken to prevent this from happening but someone failed to act, did they?

Questions which I hope we'll soon get answers to. But here's how The Guardian covered the news yesterday.

Press Association Tuesday October 30, 2007 12:03 PM

A spokeswoman for the London Fire Brigade said 30 workers at the venue in Greenwich, formerly the Millennium Dome, were treated for minor injuries after the gas leaked from the ice rink plant to the outside of the arena through an air vent.
No members of the public were harmed and the London Fire Brigade and Health and Safety Executive have launched investigations.
The fire brigade was called at 8.30pm on Monday, with police and the London Ambulance Service also attending.
The LFB spokeswoman said: "The gas supply was isolated and monitoring of the affected area was carried out using specialist equipment.
"The area has now been declared safe. An investigation team has been on site but the matter is now in the hands of the site manager."
The LFB spokeswoman said a total of 30 members of staff suffered ammonia inhalation and 27 were taken to hospital, with three declining treatment. The staff complained of runny noses, itchy eyes and discomfort.
A spokeswoman for The O2 said: "There was a minor ammonia leak last night at The O2. The building was immediately evacuated. Some members of staff have gone to hospital as a precautionary measure."
The O2 opened in June this year in what was formerly known as the Millennium Dome. The entertainment venue's centrepiece is a 20,000-capacity arena. It has already attracted some of the biggest names in music to perform, including Prince, Bon Jovi and Sir Elton John.
In November an ice disco is due to open for four months on a 900-square-metre ice rink in the London Piazza area of the venue.