Four men working on a new sewerage tunnel in Belfast have been treated for suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, it emerged tonight.
The men fell ill last month, Northern Ireland Water revealed. They had been working on the stg£100 million improvement of the city's sewerage infrastructure. All four were treated in hospital for the effects of exposure to carbon monoxide.
Brain Monson from the Northern Ireland Health and Safety Executive said he was satisfied appropriate measures had now been taken to ensure there was sufficient oxygen circulating in the tunnels.
"In the wake of the incidents our people checked the site and were more than satisfied that NI Water had taken appropriate measures to increasing monitoring in the tunnels and ensure more air got in."
A spokeswoman from NI Water tests carried out after the men reported feeling unwell gave no indication of excessive levels of carbon monoxide in the tunnel.