Carbon Monoxide fatalities linked to gas cookers increase ten fold

Gas cookers significantly contributed to a rise in fatalities caused by Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning across Great Britain from 1 July 2008 to 30th June 2009, reports the UK's leading gas safety charity, The Corgi Trust, in the 13th annual benchmarking report launched today.

Seven of the 17 deaths caused by CO were associated with cooker appliances, the highest number since 2000/1. Four of the seven deaths were linked with enclosed grill models that did not have automatic shut off valves that operate when the grill is used incorrectly with the door shut. In contrast, the report also identifies gas cookers left on and open for prolonged periods in a small or poorly ventilated kitchen, perhaps to provide an additional source of heat, as an area of misuse that needs to be addressed.

"In 2007/8 there was only one incident reported with a cooker, where as in 2008/9 there were 10, the highest number since DIDR records began in July 1996. This is higher than the fatality rate associated with boilers and therefore an area of huge concern," commented Nigel Dumbrell, Manager of The Corgi Trust. "The report therefore recommends that urgent attention is given to enhance cooker safety and that the potential dangers of cooker misuse are more widely advertised among manufacturers, gas installers, double glazing installers, building alteration approval officers and the general public.

Over the 12 month reporting period, 17 deaths and 96 casualties in 56 incidents were confirmed to be CO poisoning linked to mains natural gas. No LPG linked incidents were reported.

Of the 56 incidents recorded :

As well as cooker misuse, an analysis of the established causes of incidents reported also revealed additional concerns such as a lack of servicing (specified in 25% of the cases),flue/terminal positioning and the fitting or seal between flues and appliances.

Cooker safety and misuse aside, report recommendations also highlighted the continued importance of a co-ordinated approach across all fuels to scope the true extent of CO incidents, and the current discussions with solid fuel and oil industries to develop the DIDR form for their use.

The fourth and final recommendation called for two additional areas of questioning to be included on the DIDR forms, which would enable more insight into the use and type of CO alarms as well as the details of established causes.

The executive summary of the report outlines, that contrary to the advice of HSE officials, there is a duty in law on the gas supplier to carry out an investigation irrespective of whether the HSE intends to prosecute any parties or not. It therefore recommends that ways are sought to involve the HSE in issuing updated guidance both to Gas Supply Companies and HSE regional offices to ensure that DIDR forms are fully completed in all relevant cases.

"A lack of detailed reporting was a concern that was noted last year and although some measures have been put in place over the last 12 months there is still more to do," explained Dumbrell. "It is so important that the level of detail recorded on the DIDR forms is as complete and accurate as possible, across all fuels and for all relevant incidents. The future of CO safety and targeted investment into key areas of prevention and research depends on it," he concluded.

The Corgi Trust CO incident report is published on The Corgi Trust website:
www.trustcorgi.com

About The Corgi Trust

The CORGI Trust was established in 2005 as a registered charitable body with the key objectives of further improving gas safety for the public and industry throughout the UK and reducing the incidents of death and serious injury from carbon monoxide exposure. For more details go to www.trustcorgi.com/corgitrust

NB: The Corgi Trust will relaunch as The Gas Safety Trust in May 2010.

About the Report

The 13th annual CO incident report, compiled from information supplied via Downstream Incident Data Report (DIDR) forms completed and submitted by investigators at British Gas and CORGI Services on behalf of the Gas Industry and in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), reviews incidents relating to mains natural gas and piped LPG.

Funded by The Corgi Trust, the report provides an overview of causes and trends associated with CO poisoning incidents relating to mains natural gas and LPG. The conclusions reached are intended to help further improve safety, to target investment on CO incident prevention and to identify additional research work.

It is important to note that the number of fatal incidents reviewed in report differs from those recorded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as it includes only confirmed cases arising from the use of mains natural gas and piped LPG. In the case of non-fatal incidents the difference is considerable, primarily because the HSE includes suspected but not confirmed CO incidents, and in addition, includes those resulting from the use of bottled gas.

Media Enquiries

For further information and interview requests, please contact:
Hannah Aspey, Energy PR, 01993 823011, hannah@energypr.co.uk
Nigel Dumbrell, The Corgi Trust, 0845 165 2249 / 07825 943298