News

New website from the Boat Safety Scheme

Boaters with solid fuel stoves on their boats have a new source of advice to help avoid the two deadly threats of fire and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and at the same time, save money on fuel, with the launch of a stove safety portal on the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) stay-safe website, www.boatsafetyscheme.com/solidfuelstoves .

Last year there were 14 incidents involving solid fuel stoves being used on boats and in the last decade at least two dozen boaters have been hurt and five have died in incidents linked to stove use.

Using what it has learnt from these incidents, the BSS points to four key risks that must be avoided or managed if boats and crews are to keep safe with solid fuel stoves,-

• ‘over-firing’, where the stove runs out of control and burns super-hot;
• ‘proximity and pyrolysis’ - wood, textiles, paper, fuels, etc. being too close and getting too hot for too long.
• CO poisoning due to the escape of stove flue gases into the cabin;
• Poor maintenance and misuse of the stove.

The BSS will also be promoting on its website, the new Code of Practice published by British Standards for installing stoves implemented this year, and the BSS believes it will be a great help for anyone buying a stove, renewing a chimney or just revamping the hearth or stove surrounds. There will be an overview with some headline pointers as well as links to more details.

Graham Watts, BSS Manager said

‘Our advice draws on the code and the lessons from fire and CO incident reports over the years. We’ve also used both boat building and stove experts to analyse the guidance as well as carry out practical tests. 

‘We hope to follow up the new web pages with more materials in the coming months. It’s been a huge project and we’re not finished yet, we want UK boaters to have the best possible information and support.’

‘However, simply having good equipment, properly installed is still not the complete story, the way that stoves are used and maintained are just as critical.

‘There can be hidden dangers associated with normal use and our web pages will help boaters avoid the risks’

The BSS is also promoting the additional benefits of the new installation practices, as they can help some boaters to save money by using less fuel.

Stoves with insulated chimneys are also more controllable and so have the potential for drastic fuel reduction – some early tests indicate that the savings could be as high as 50 per cent.

The BSS has been checking with manufacturers and suppliers and most of the major names in the market now have products and instructions that align with the new Code.

-ENDS-

Reporter’s contacts

BSS: communications manager, Rob McLean, d/l: 01923 201353 mbl: 07710 175478

November 2011

Public Liability Insurance Survey

We'd like to know how many registered gas installers have Public Liability Insurance (PLI). CO-Gas Safety believes it is in everyone's interest for registered gas installers to have PLI as it protects your customer and you if things go wrong. However, making PLI mandatory would require a change in the law.

In return for your participation, every completed survey (one per Registered Gas Installer, ie. per business) will be entered into our prize draw to win a KANE455 CPA1 Flue Gas Analyser worth £649 + VAT!

October 2011

Interesting new article about data on unintentional deaths and injuries from CO.

See http://www.straightstatistics.org/article/carbon-monoxide-killer-no-official-record for an examination of the Gas Safety Trust's statistics versus CO-Gas Safety's data.

You are here: HomeArticlesCarbon Monoxide: the killer with no official record

Carbon Monoxide: the killer with no official record

Tags: ONS, HSE, energy, deaths, accidents

Several papers yesterday headlined claims that accidental deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning rose sharply in the 12 months to the end of June 2011.

“CO poisoning deaths treble in a year” is The Press and Journal’s take on the story.  The Belfast Morning Telegraph reports that Ulster tops the UK deaths table, while the BBC says that Devon has been named as the top “hot spot” for incidents of CO poisoning.

The reports derived from the Gas Safety Trust’s Carbon Monoxide Hotspot Report for 2011, which records 25 fatalities in 2010-11 against just seven the year before. It further finds that while deaths have risen the number of incidents has fallen from 72 to 50, and the number of casualties from 138 to 80.

Ulster comes high on the list because of three incidents in which a total of seven people died. In Devon, there were five incidents and two deaths.  These numbers are simply too small and randomly distributed to allow a league table of hot spots to be constructed. But are they even right?

The figures are based entirely on press reports. Such sources aren’t to be despised, but it says something for the dearth of reliable information about carbon monoxide deaths that they should be the sole source. While deaths that are reported are likely to be accurate as they generally originate from coroners’ inquests, there may be others that are not reported at all.

Other sources of data are the Health and Safety Executive and the charity CO-Gas Safety, and both tell a very different story. The HSE data cover only those incidents caused by flammable gas, mainly piped gas but also LPG. They record 16 deaths in 2005-06, 10 in 2006-07, 13 in 2007-08, 15 in 2008-09, and (provisionally) nine in 2009-10. Delays in coroners’ inquests mean that this figure is likely to be too low. 

CO-Gas Safety’s figures are far more convincing, although it is a small charity operating on a modest budget.  It records (with names and dates) 594 people who have died in the past 15 years (an average of around 40 a year) and its data includes deaths involving gas mains, portable gas, solid fuel and petrol. It too uses press reports but it also contacts coroners to check details. The best summary of its work appears in this press pack.

The charity’s most recent data (see Table) show reductions in deaths since the 1990s but a pretty steady figure for the past decade of around 30 deaths a year. In a 2009 report for the Department of Communities and Local Government, the CO-Gas Safety figures are quoted and compared with a very similar estimate for 2007 made by the Office for National Statistics of 35 deaths due to CO that year. This estimate appears to have been made at the DCLG’s request and is not part of the normal ONS output.

However, these figures are in sharp disagreement with the data from the Hot Spot report. There’s no reason to believe that deaths in 2009/10 were as low as seven, as the Hot Spot report claims – CO-Gas Safety counted 25. So the purported increase to 25 this year found by the Hot Spot report is probably not an increase at all. Nor is it the case, if one considers all the deaths recorded by CO-Gas Safety over the past 15 years, that either Devon or Northern Ireland stand out as in any way exceptional. Both fall into the second-highest quintile for CO-related accidental deaths over that period.

What does stand out is the absence of official statistics on this cause of death. My guess is that the CO-Gas Safety figures are about as good as there are. It’s extraordinary that the founder and director of the charity, Stephanie Trotter OBE, assisted by a friend, should be able to collect figures that appear beyond the heating industry. The figures are regularly updated, mostly by adding deaths for recent years because it can take three years for an inquest to be held, but very occasionally removing deaths that turn out later to have been suicides.

As she puts it on her website: “We are shocked that our data is better than Government's. We try to check most deaths with Coroners and we have built up a good relationship with them over the 15 years we have been doing this. We also check with other bodies, such as the Solid Fuel Association, which has always been extremely helpful to us.”

It’s also rather shocking that nobody is trying harder to fill this gap. ONS has demonstrated that it has the capacity to make an estimate, but doesn’t do so on a regular basis.  The evidence is that the number of deaths has fallen since the 1990s, but it is still unacceptably high. There are also many "mear-misses" and in September the Department of Health issued experimental data derived from Hospital Episode Statistics suggesting that 4,000 people a year attend A&E departments with CO poisoning. The DH also believes that there are 50 deaths a year, and 200 injuries tnat require admission to hospital. This suggests that the deaths recorded by CO-Gas Safety may be an underestimate.

The Hot Spots report was researched and compiled by an undergraduate at St John’s College, Cambridge. No offence to him, and I’m sure he did the best with the data at his disposal, but I think it’s time greater efforst were made to measure this significant cause of death. The Gas Safety Trust records that it has spent more than £170,000 on data collection and analysis since September 2007, employing a number of consultancies to do the work. The Hot Spots report is not the only publication it produces using this data, but it is the one most likely to be read by gas consumers.

CO-Gas Safety, meanwhile, is seeking grants to continue its work. 

Mark Piney (not verified) wrote,

Fri, 14/10/2011 - 08:32

I am not sure that the HSE stats are set out to show this, but there's a seasonal pattern to CO deaths (as I recall). Most occur in Autumn/Winter months. Apart from this observation, I congratulate you on another excellent analysis. And it is a scandal that there's no standardised, routine effort made to collect accurate statistics and work done nationally to get the numbers down. I hope you're efforts stimulate debate, and action.

christopher crossman (not verified) wrote,

Fri, 14/10/2011 - 10:33

we have had two hard winters so is it not obvious that CO-related deaths will rise in line with increased use of supplementary indoor heating?
l

Rob Aiers (not verified) wrote,

Mon, 17/10/2011 - 17:55

I have been trying to get the authorities various to correlate the figures and come up with a much better reporting structure for years. The figures are so far out of whack and no one is really taking on board the very real need to understand what the figures are. The coroner does not routinely check bodies for poison and in any event it reports to the home office. Doctors are no where near as familiar as they should be with chronic and acute poisoning and what to look for by way of symptoms. I have offered a correlation/marketing platform facility to various departments for a number of years to no avail. We are the worlds number resource for carbon monoxide related issues with 6 thousand visitors a week we are able to draw people together in the CO. community. It seems to me that in the 12 years that we have been running the web site www.carbonmonoxidekills.com that all official departments have spent fortunes covering their backsides rather than getting on with the job of protecting the public. Stephanie however has done a Stirling job over the years as have Co-Awareness at getting the message out. It really is about time that the Government stepped up to the plate. With better understanding we would know better how many people have died or been injured, we would also know the potential cost to the NHS of the of doing nothing!

Anonymous (not verified) wrote,

Wed, 19/10/2011 - 01:28

Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide (car exhaust gases) used to account for a goodly number of suicide attempts and deaths. However, with changes to car exhaust systems they have disappeared as a method of suicide. Are there any lessons to be learnt, i wonder ?

January 2011

Plumbing boss backs campaign to tackle deadly carbon monoxide

Pimlico Plumbers founder, Charlie Mullins, is urging others in the trade to follow his lead and back a national campaign aiming to raise awareness for the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

The entrepreneur recently joined MPs, victims of the lethal gas and primary school pupils at a special reception held at the House of Lords, organised by independent, registered charity CO-Gas Safety.

The charity used the event to officially unveil 15 years of data collected on deaths and injuries sustained due to unintentional CO poisoning. According to the research, over the period 594 people have died as a result of the silent killer.

Key findings of the data reveal:
• A total of 594 people in the UK have died as a result of CO poisoning between September 1, 1995 – August 31, 2010
• 260 people over the age of 60 have been killed
• The north west, south Wales and the south east are the geographical areas with the most recorded deaths in the last 15 years
• 37% of deaths have been the result of CO caused by the burning of gas from the gas mains
• 31% of deaths have been the result of CO caused by burning of solid fuel
• Almost 70% of deaths occurred in the home
• 3,973 near misses of whom 2,085* required hospital treatment (*of those 2085, 365 had lost consciousness)
CO poisoning can be emitted from faulty cooking and heating appliances powered by the burning of any carbon based fuel, such as gas, coal, oil, wood or petrol. It is undetectable by any human sense and can kill in minutes.

Gas installers are particularly at risk from the toxic gas. In late 2010, a Gas Safe registered installer, aged 22, died suddenly at a house in Macclesfield where he was installing central heating and is thought to have been a victim of CO poisoning, according to police reports.

Charlie said: “Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill in minutes, so it’s something every installer should take very seriously. It’s time that the whole industry backed this campaign to raise awareness and reaffirm with homeowners the importance of using registered installers.

“We are urging householders to have all heating appliances installed and regularly maintained by Gas Safe registered people and to have chimneys and flues regularly swept and checked. Ensuring there is adequate ventilation is vital and the purchase of a CO alarm to standard EN50291 is an extra safeguard.”

Stephanie Trotter, OBE, president of CO-Gas Safety, said: “We are so glad to have Charlie’s backing and are gaining in support from many registered gas installers. We are pushing for all registered gas installers to be equipped with Personal Alarm/Air Monitors (PAMs) and to carry and use flue gas analysers to test appliances for CO. The Gas Emergency Service has no equipment to do this and only Scotia Gas has PAMs. This is a deadly gas and it seems crazy not to do this.”

She continued: “CO-Gas Safety has lobbied for many years for prime time television warnings about CO, like those used for fire and drink driving, as people who have been affected by CO poisoning tell us time and time again that they didn’t even know what CO was, so how they could protect themselves?”

November 2010 - Important Product Recall:
Royal Classic, Calor Classic and Calor Compact portable gas heaters sold after the 1 August 2010

Unipart is issuing a product recall on some of its portable gas heaters purchased since the 1 August 2010, due to reports that a small number of products have been malfunctioning.

Unipart says that any Royal Classic, Calor Classic or Calor Compact portable heater bought after this date should be immediately switched off and returned to the point of purchase. The affected heaters were sold through Calor centres and other independent retailers.

Unipart believes the number of products affected and sold to date to be around 5,000 across Great Britain.  Any affected customers will be offered a replacement product where stocks allow or a full refund.

Unipart and Calor have set up a hotline for any customers who are worried about their heaters. The number to call is 0800 181 4522.

A spokesperson from Unipart comments: “Whilst there is perceived to be minimal risk, our customers’ safety is paramount, so we have decided to carry out a product recall. The malfunction could lead to the heaters emitting carbon monoxide marginally above the allowed levels.  Royal Classic, Calor Classic and Calor Compact portable heaters which have been purchased after the 1 August of this year must be switched off immediately, and returned to wherever customers bought them from.  We wish to thank our affected customers for their co-operation and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Unipart has supplied the heaters to Calor and a number of other retailers, all of whom have been notified of the fault, and sales suspended.  The Royal Classic, Calor Classic and Calor Compact products are the only products at risk of this malfunction.  No other products are affected. More information including the serial numbers of products affected is available at www.calor.co.uk/recall

PRODUCT IMAGES

March 2010

We are very concerned about the other toxins. See under 'Other toxins' and also under 'Blood tests' on right hand side of 'Prevention'.

When we raise this issue with Government we are told that carbon monoxide is the main issue. This may be true but then why has so little been done about CO? See below*

Please Help Change the Law
June 9, 2007 by CO-Gas Safety

Reading this could change your life and could help us change the law and prevent tragedies.

Please ask your friends and relations to ask their MP to sign this early day motion EDM 1032 Breed,Colin.

That this House records its sadness that 16 people have already been reported as having died of accidental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the UK since September 2006*; commends the recommendations which were made by the Health and Safety Commission in 2000, including a modest levy on gas suppliers to provide funds for raising awareness of the dangers of CO; recognises the need the regular servicing of appliances by qualified operatives, adequate ventilation, regular chimney sweeping and the use of CO alarms in preventing CO poisoning; further recognises that the gas emergency service should have and use equipment to test appliances for CO; and urges the Government to bring forward proposals to make these recommendations mandatory given the lack of industry movement since 1997, and to make funds available for a body to assist the victims, their families and to fund further research.. * Up to March 2007 only.

121 MPs signed this which is a triumph
This also shows o how many MPs consider this topic to e of interest to them and their constituents.

* However, this doesn't change the issue that in 2000 the Health and Safety Commission (now Executive) made the following recommendations:-

1 A levy on the gas suppliers to pay for publicity to raise awareness of the dangers of CO and for reseach.

2. That the Gas Emergency Service carries and uses equipment to test appliances for CO.

Neither of these excellent recommendations has been implemented.

Reading this may save your life or that of loved one.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas which can be emitted from any faulty heating or cooking appliance powered by fuel that burns (gas, coal, oil, wood etc). In our opinion deaths and injuries are hugely unreported. Dead bodies are not automatically tested for CO and GPs almost never diagnose or test those complaining of symptoms of poisoning which are very similar to any virus (headaches, nausea, exhaustion etc.). Less than 2% of CO in the air can kill in less than two minutes. Long term low level poisoning can cause brain and other neurological damage.