Urgent recall notice for popular kitchen hob over risk of DEATH as hundreds of Irish consumers warned ‘do not use’
https://www.thesun.ie/money/11559170/urgent-recall-popular-kitchen-hob-risk-death-not-use/
28.10.23
Urgent recall notice for popular kitchen hob over risk of DEATH as hundreds of Irish consumers warned ‘do not use’
https://www.thesun.ie/money/11559170/urgent-recall-popular-kitchen-hob-risk-death-not-use/
28.10.23
by Ellie Curtis | 10 Feb 2023
Jonathan Kane, our CEO, won the IGEM 2023 Lions Lair competition held in London.
The now legendary IGEM ‘Dragon’s Den’ contest requires contestants to present to over 100 IGEM members for 4 minutes then answer questions.
Jonathan was one of 5 contestants and, speaking for CO-Gas Safety charity & KANE, presented why Gas Emergency Service engineers must test homes & appliances for CO.
This was poignant as this year the competition was renamed the Chris Bielby award in memory of IGEM’s former President & Gas Safety advocate, with the award presented by his wife & daughter.
Jonathan explained CO remains a significant problem and CO alarms cannot detect low levels of CO – The current WHO limit is 4ppm over 24 hours while CO alarms are not triggered until at least 30ppm is detected
Low level CO poisoning is dangerous – victims are ill and confused as are doctors & Accident & Emergency because blood tests are usually taken hours after CO has left the blood stream.
Jonathan highlighted the consequences: Disbelief by families, friends, medics and the Police and a nightmare for traumatized victims.
2 University studies showed over 25% of homes tested had CO levels well above WHO limits.
Jonathan explained CO testing was straightforward & quick – under 2 minutes using the BS7967 approved appliance sweep test – and our KANE458s IAQ – https://www.kane.co.uk/products/kane458s-indoor-air-quality – can test 4 rooms simultaneously for CO migration in 30 minutes.
Some Gas Emergency Service engineers now use KANE458s IAQ analysers to identify & eliminate CO in homes of vulnerable people, funded by OFGEM.
Jonathan asked this now include all Gas Emergency Service engineers since CO affects anyone, not only vulnerable customers, and asked industry to fund a CO victim support group run on similar lines to ASA, the Advertising Standards Agency.
After hearing all 5 presentations, the IGEM judges decided Jonathan was the winner.
Photo following
Stephanie Trotter, CO-Gas safety Charity & Jonathan Kane with the IGEM 2023 Lions Lair award
Jonathan thanks IGEM for organising the contest, Chris Bielby’s wife & daughter for presenting the prize and the CO-Gas Safety charity for representing victims so professionally for over 28 years, highlighting simple solutions to end these unnecessary tragedies.
For info on KANE & our KANE458s IAQ, visit www.kane.co.uk or https://www.kane.co.uk/products/kane458s-indoor-air-quality or call 0800 059 0800
For info on CO-Gas Safety, visit https://www.co-gassafety.co.uk
If you or people you know are affected by CO, call the Gas Emergency Service – For info, see here: https://www.co-gassafety.co.uk/emergency/
Latest News
Today, we launch our Fuel Crisis report 2023. This is the third consecutive year we have published the report, the findings are based on a survey of 1,374 people across Great Britain, all of whom had accessed Fuel Bank services in the past year.
Unsurprisingly, given the ongoing challenges faced by the UK, due to the cost-of-living crisis and higher energy prices, the results paint a stark picture of the harsh reality of life for the millions of people who are in fuel poverty. For our client group, this means not having the funds to top up their energy meter or oil tank, and therefore living today or face living tomorrow without heat, light or hot water.
Please find below a link to download the media pack containing: (The link will be live for 7 days from today)
– Copy of report
– Press release
– Briefing sheet
– Social content and supporting imagery
The report can also be accessed on our website:
Fuel-Bank-Fuel-Crisis-Report-2023.pdf (fuelbankfoundation.org)
CO-Gas Safety quick summary – Exposure to diacetyl vapour in food and drink manufacture – controlling this will also control CO.
This vapour is created when roasting coffee beans, particularly grinding them when the beans are still hot.
Exposure to diacetyl vapour in food and drink manufacture
Health and Safety Executive – Safety alert
Department name: Engagement and Policy Division
Bulletin number: EPD01-2023
Issue date: 01/23
Target audience: Employers, and the self-employed, in food and drink manufacture who use diacetyl.
Issue
Exposure to vapour from diacetyl, often used as a flavouring and a by-product of coffee roasting, can lead to severe and irreversible lung disease. Even if diacetyl is present at low concentrations within mixtures or flavourings, exposure to its vapour may be above safe workplace exposure limits (WELs).
Outline of the problem
HSE scientific studies show that heating diacetyl above certain temperatures significantly increases airborne concentrations and the potential for exposures above safe workplace limits.
Risk in coffee manufacture
Exposure levels during bean roasting and grinding can exceed WELs. The amount of diacetyl generated naturally during bean grinding is temperature dependent. Concentrations are significantly greater if the roasted beans are ground when still warm (around 400C) and reduced if the beans are cooled between roasting and grinding down to room temp (around 16-20C).
Risk in flavour manufacture
Airborne concentrations and the potential for exposures above safe workplace limits is significantly increased if flavour mixtures containing diacetyl, even at low concentrations (below 5%) are heated, added to hot processes or spray dried.
Risk of exposure can occur during
Hazardous substance workplace exposure limit (WEL)
Diacetyl (CAS: 431-03-8), also known as 2,3-butanedione, is a naturally occurring organic compound but is also manufactured synthetically. Diacetyl vapour can be generated as a by-product during the roasting and grinding of coffee beans and may also be present during brewing of some beers. Synthetic diacetyl is classified as a hazardous substance. It is toxic if inhaled, can cause skin irritation and eye damage by contact and harmful if swallowed.
WELs for diacetyl were published in EH40/2005 Workplace Exposure Limits. Limits are at 20 parts per billion (ppb) or 0.02 parts per million (ppm) over an 8-hr time weighted average (TWA) and 100 ppb or 0.10 ppm over a 15-min TWA period. Suppliers’ safety data sheets for diacetyl or for mixtures containing diacetyl should list these WELs. the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (as amended) require employers to ensure work-related exposure is assessed, prevented or adequately controlled so that it is below the WELs.
Action required
Assess the risk
If your processes include the use of diacetyl, food flavourings that contain diacetyl, or are likely to produce diacetyl, then you must carry-out a risk assessment. Your risk assessment will help you to identify the hazards associated with the potential for exposure, understand who might be harmed and how, evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
Check the safety data sheet
If diacetyl is not mentioned on a safety data sheet for food flavourings (which are likely to contain it) you should contact the supplier to confirm if it is present or not
Sample
If there is a potential for diacetyl exposure use sampling and analysis to verify whether exposure is likely to be above the WEL.
Substitute
Substitute to a safer alternative product. Substitutes should not contain compounds similar to diacetyl such as 2,3-pentanedione.
Control risk of exposure
If substitution is not a viable option (for example if diacetyl is a natural by-product), then strict controls must be implemented:
Health surveillance
If there is a reasonable likelihood that workers may be harmed by diacetyl you must introduce a health surveillance programme. Your risk assessment will help you decide if this is required. A health surveillance programme should be devised in consultation with an occupational health provider.
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Carbon monoxide is also known to be a by-product in coffee processing. Control of diacetyl through enclosure and extraction will also help control CO emission. HSE recommends that as part of a risk assessment process, you carry out sampling to establish whether any further controls for CO might be necessary.
Guidance
Relevant legal documents
Dear friend
Over the last 40 years, INQUEST has stood alongside thousands of families whose loved ones have died at the hands of the state as they demand truth, justice and accountability.
We are facing funding challenges at a time when the demand for our work has never been greater. As we witness the impact of austerity and erosion of human rights, our work holding the state and authorities accountable when they fail in their duty of care is as important as ever.
Today, we’re launching our fundraising appeal to raise £40,000 so we can continue our vital work. Donate today and show bereaved families that they are not alone in their fight for truth, justice and accountability.
Together we can put an end to state related deaths and the unjust systems which enable them.
With gratitude,
Deborah Coles and the whole team at INQUEST
P.S. We know not everyone can help with a donation just now. Can you share our posts on social media to help spread the word? Find our posts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or send the campaign page to a friend.
|
||||
ONS blog2 December 2022 |
||||
What have we learned about the experience of disabled people?22% of people in the UK are disabled Tomorrow (3 December) is the UN International Day for Persons with Disabilities. With the most recent estimates from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) putting the proportion of disabled people in the UK at 22% in 2021 (up from 19% a decade ago), this is a sizeable and very diverse group. Here, Helen Colvin and Josephine Foubert from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) look at some of the work we have been doing recently to give insight into the lives of disabled children and adults. I found this shocking but perhaps unsurprising. Reminded me of the first time I travelled up to Waterloo by train with my new baby – I looked round and realised about 50% of people were elderly, ill, on crutches, a wheel chair user, carrying or dealing with heavy luggage or were pushing prams or push chairs. What they all had in common was the need for level surfaces and ramps. Read the blog |
Assets |
Theme |
Gas Emergency number video clip |
Gas Emergency Service number 0800 111 999
National Grid info: Emergencies and safety advice | National Grid Gas More support: Help & Support — Carbon Monoxide: Alarms Save Lives (coalarmssavelives.com) |
Priority Services Register video
Find my GDN video |
Support for households is available:
Help & Support — Carbon Monoxide: Alarms Save Lives (coalarmssavelives.com) |
#Bills #Heating #PriorityServicesRegister #EnergyAdvice #HouseholdSupport #StayWarm |
Cooking video
Factsheet – Do’s and Don’ts |
PLEASE VENTILATE WHENEVER POSSIBLE Without fresh air, carbon monoxide can build up
Campaign homepage: Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2022 — Carbon Monoxide: Alarms Save Lives (coalarmssavelives.com)
Ventil8 Day: Facts & Resources (worldventil8day.com)
OPSS Gas Cooker warning: OPSS intervenes on dangerous Glen Dimplex gas cookers – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) |