CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY ON BOATS

How to protect you, your crew, your visitors and pets on your boat from the ‘Silent Killer’ - Carbon Monoxide

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Investigations start following the death of two people from CO poisoning.

Carbon monoxide... what’s the risk?

CO build-up in the cabin can occur with one or a mix of these factors:

• Faulty,badlymaintainedormisusedappliances

• Exhaustfumesfromaboat’sengineorgenerator

• Escapedfluegasesfromsolidfuelstoves

• Blockedventilationorshortsupplyofair-fuelneedsoxygentoburnsafely

Eachyearboatersdieoraremadeseriouslyillfromcarbonmonoxide(CO)poisoning.

Boatsarebuilttokeepwaterout,butthisalsomakesthemgoodcontainersforgasesandfumes.

Whencarbon-based,applianceandenginefuels,suchasgas,LPG,coal,wood,paraffin,oil,petrolanddieseldon’tburncompletely,COisproduced.

Inrecentyears,solidfuelstovesandengineorgeneratorexhaustgaseshavebeenresponsibleformostdeathsofboatersfromCOpoisoning.

How the silent killer works!

Some people will be affected much more quickly:

• Pregnantwomenandunbornbabies;

COisahighlypoisonousgasthatweighsaboutthesameasair.

Athighconcentrations,COcankillwithoutwarning,sometimesinonlyminutes.

Itcannotbeseen,smelt,tasted,orfelt,that’swhyit’sknownasthesilentkiller!

WhenyoubreatheinCO,itreplacestheoxygeninyourbloodstream,preventingessentialsuppliestoyourbodytissues,heart,brainandothervitalorgans.WherevictimssurvivesevereCOpoisoning,theycanbeleftwithlong-termbraindamagesuchaspoorerconcentration,ormoodswings,etc.

Butevenbreathing-inlowerlevelsofCOoveralongerperiod,youcanstillsufferseriouseffectssuchasmemoryproblemsanddifficultyconcentrating.

• Babiesandyoungchildren

• Olderpeople

• Peoplewithrespiratoryproblemsorheartconditions

For other reasons, some people may be at higher risk:

• Thosewhohavebeendo-ingsomethingactiveandarebreathingmorerapidlyanddeeplyandhaveagreaterneedforoxygen

• Thosewhohavebeendrinkingheavily-becausethesymptomsmaybemasked

COcankillinminutes-bepreparedtoactquicklyifyouthinkyouarebeingpoisoned!

IfCOisinyourcabinspace,everyoneisatrisk,nooneisimmune!

CO poisoning can creep up on you – recognise the signs

• Headacheandbadtemper

Ifyouareasleep,youmaynotnoticeanysymptomsastheydevelop.

Even if you are awake,earlysymptomsofCOpoisoningcaneasilybemistakenfortheflu,foodpoisoning,ahangoverorgeneraltiredness.

Wehavelistedsomeofthecommonsymptoms,butnoteveryonesufferingCOpoisoningwillhaveallofthem.

Common symptoms include:

• Feelingsickanddizzy

• Feelingtiredandconfused

• Stomachpainsandbeingsick

The greater the amount of CO there is in air, or the longer you are breathing in CO, the worse your symptoms may get:

• Drowsiness,lethargy,extremetiredness,difficultyconcentrating

• Afeelingofgeneralweakness,difficultyinwalkingormoving

• Lossofbalanceandsightandmemoryproblems

…and with very high CO levels

• Chestpains

• Increasedheartrate

• Difficultybreathingorbreath-lessness

• Seizures

• Collapse,unconsciousnessanddeath

For more information visit the NHS website http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/pages/introduction.aspxortelephoneNHSDirecton08454647.

If you think you are suffering – ACT QUICKLY

Seek medical helpFastactioncouldsaveyourlife.Askyourself‘Arepeopleillonmyboat,butfeelOKashore?’

IfyoususpectyouhavecarbonmonoxidepoisoningortheCOalarmactivates,youneedtoactfast.

Don’tdelay,seeadoctorandsayyoumayhavesufferedcarbonmonoxidepoisoning.

Getallpeopleandpetsouttofreshairasquicklyasyoucan.Stayinthefreshair.

Ifyoucan,onyourwayout,turnoffappliancesandengines…

…alsoleavedoors,windowsandawningsopentoallowfreshairtoflowthroughtheboat.

Ifothercrewmembers,orpets,arefeelingillorhavethesymptoms,theyneedmedicalhelptoo.

Anyone with severe symptoms needs to get to hospital as quickly as possible!

Severe CO poisoning needs immediate medical treatment

COpoisoningcanonlybetestedshortlyafterexposureasitstracesbegintodisappearassoonasyoustartbreathingclearair.

IfCOpoisoningisconfirmed-getaproperlyqualifiedpersontofindandfixtheapplianceorenginebeforeitisusedagain.

Ifyoucan,turnoffengines&fuelsupplies

Know any danger signs on your boat

AnyofthefollowingcouldbesignsthatCOisfillingyourboat:

• AnunfamiliarorburningsmellwhenanLPGoroilapplianceison

• Staining,sootysmears,ordiscolourationonsurfacesaroundanapplianceoritsflue

• Smellingorseeingsmokeescapingregularlyintothecabinwhenrunningyourwood-burnerorcoalstove

Fluegasesfromsolidfuelstovescanhaveupto100timestheconcentrationsofCOfoundingasburners.

• Smellingengineexhaustfumesregularlyinsidethecockpitorcabin

Checkroutinelythatyourboat’sfuel-burningappliancesandenginesaresafe.

• Appliancesthataredifficulttolight,keeplitorburnweakly

• Burnerswithyellowororangeor‘floppy’flamesthatthreatentogoout

How to prevent CO on your boat

COcanbeprevented.Takeafewsensiblestepstoreducetheriskdramatically.

Onlybuyappliancesthatmeetthelateststandardsandaresuitableforuseinboats.

TherequiredventilationcanbecalculatedbyusingtheformulainCh.8oftheBSSEssentialGuide.

Haveappliancesproperlyinstalledandservicedroutinelybycompetentfitters.

Annualservicingofappliancesisrecommendedwheretheboatisusedfrequentlyorforlongerperiods.Ensureallrepairsuseproprietarycomponents.Makenomistake,gashfixesorbodgejobsbringrisks.

Goodairsupplyinthecabinisvitaltorunningappliances.

Checkthecabinventsforblockagesandbuild-upsofspiders’websanddebris.

Openwindowsforextraventilationwhencooking,especiallywhenusinglargepansonLPGhobs.

Checksolidfuelstovesforcracks,missingcoverplates,warpeddoorsandpoorconditionropeseals.

Followapplianceinstructions-burntherightfuelforyourstove,intherightway.

Burningdampfuelorplasticrubbishcancausecloggingoftheflue.

Whenremovinghotashesandembers,useametalashbucketwithlidandkeepoutsideintheopen.

Keep flue pipes and terminals in tip top condition!

Ensureallflueorexhaustsoutletsareoutsideofawnings,covereddecksorcratches.

Crushingyourboat’schimneyterminalonabridgearchcandamagemorethanyourpocket.

Acleanfluepipekeptingoodconditionwillhelpkeepagooddrawandhelptheboatkeepfreefromtoxicfluegasses.

Ensuresolidfuelstovechimneysaresweptatleastannually,orevenseveraltimesayear-themoreastoveisused,themoreoftenthechimneyneedscleaning.

Checkallappliancefluepipesroutinelyforrusting,pitting,blockages,looseormissingconnections.

Lookforsignsofleaks.Asootysmearatafluejointisabadsign.

Checkthatventsandflueterminals,especiallyoncabintops,arenotdamaged,blockedorrestrictedbystowedequipment,ropes,tarpaulinsordecorativeobjects.

Fix all problems without delay and before the equipment is used again!

Beware of engine exhaust gases in the cabin space!

Checktheboat’sexhaustsystemroutinely.Inspecteverypartforleaksorproblemsincluding;manifolds,pipes,joints,hoses,clamps,silencers,andthrough-hullfittings.

Petrolgeneratorsandoutboardmotorscanproducedangerouslyhighlevelsofcarbonmonoxide,butdon’tforget,dieselengineexhaustfumeshavealsobeenlinkedtoillnessanddeaths.

Inefficientpetrolengineperformance,runningtheenginecoolerthanitsdesigntemperatureorusingcontaminatedorstalefuel,canincreasetheconcentrationofCOinexhaustfumes.

Donotinstallorfixaportablegeneratorinsideanyaccommodationspace.

Whethertheboatismovingormoored,undercertainrunningandorwindconditionsCOatdangerouslevelscanbedeflectedordrawninfromengineexhausts.

Beagoodneighbour;seeifyoucanavoidrunningyourenginewhenmooredinacrowdedmarina,particularlywhentheairisstill.

Proprietaryconversionkitsmustbeusedifadaptingaportablegeneratortofixeduse.

Steer clear of danger, never do these things

Never blockcabinventilators. Neveruseanapplianceyouthinkisfaultyorunsafe.

Never leaveLPGappliancesonovernight,unlesstheyaredesignedtobeleftonand/oraretheroomsealedtype.

Never usemobile(cabinet)gasheaters-theyarenotsuitableforuseinboatsandcreateextrafiresafetyhazards.

Neverbringlitorcoolingbar-becuesintoacabinorcoveredcockpitarea–hotcharcoalgivesoffdangerousamountsofCO.Charcoalisonlysafewhenit’sstone-cold.

Neverblockanappliance’sairinletorheatoutlet.

Never runasolidfuelstovewithitsdoorsopen,apartfromwhenrefuelling.

Neveruseanappliancethathasacrushedflueterminal.

Neverrunportablegeneratorsinacabinorcoveredcockpitarea,orclosetoanydoor,openingorventilatorthatopensintotheboat.

Neverrunaboat’spetrolenginewiththeexhaustoutletrestrictedinanywayincludingwhenthecraftmooredagainstahigh-sidedobjectsuchasawall,anotherboatorinsidealock.

Neverswimneartoboatswiththeirenginesrunning–manyboats’exhaustsareatlowlevelandcancreateatoxicatmos-phereatwaterlevel.

Takethebeltandbracesapproachbutnotethis,COalarmsarenotasubstituteforthegoodinstallation,regularservicingandpropermaintenanceoffuelburningappliancesandengines.

FitalarmsapprovedasmeetingBSEN50291;thesearebestsuitedforboats.Alarmswithlife-longbatteriesareavailable.

Ifyouhaveanyfuelburningappliancesaboard,anengineorgenerator,fitasuitableaudiblecarbonmonoxidealarmforanaddedre-assurance.

‘Black-spot’colour-changingindicatorcardsarenotgoodenough.Youwon’thaveaninstantwarningofdangerousCOlevelsandthere’snoalarmtowakeyouup.

CO alarms save lives

Ifindoubtaboutthechoiceofalarm,callthemanufacturer’sorsupplier’ssupportlineformoreadvice.

IfthereispotentialforCOpoisoningonyourboat,itisbettertohaveanalarm,thannot.

Alarmsandwarningdevicesforpeoplewithhearinglossareavailable.

Fitalarmstostaysafe

Toptip

Lookoutforthesesymbolswhenbuyingalarms

Where should you place your CO alarm?

Neverfitanalarmdirectlyaboveasourceofheatorsteam.

Trytoplacethealarm:AllcabinswithafuelburningapplianceshouldhaveaCOalarmfitted.

Iffuelburningappliances,generatorsorenginesareusedwhilstpeoplesleep,allsleepingquarterswillneedtheirownalarms.

Iftheboathasasinglemulti-usecabin,onealarmisOK.

Forthebestprotection,followthealarmmanufacturer’sinstallationinstructionsasfarasthespaceandnatureoftheboatallow.

Butiftheplacementdirectionsaredifficulttomeetonyourboat,thesearethe‘bestpractice’points.

• Inlivingquartersbetween1mand3m(onplanview)fromtheappliance

• Inlivingquartersfixalarmshighuponawall,butatleast150mmfromtheceilingandwheretheindicatorlightscanbeseen

• Insleepingquartershavethealarminthe“breathingzone”,i.e.nearthebedhead

• Beforefixing,testthatyoucanhearanalarmfromanypositionintheboat(orbuyanadditionalalarm)

Living with your CO alarm

Testthealarmswhenyoufirstboardtheboat.Testthealarmweeklywhentheboatisinuse.

COalarmsdonotlastforeverandhaveareplacementdatemarkedonthem.Donotusethealarmbeyondthatdateandifinanydoubt,replaceitearlier.

Whenworkingontheboatwithpaints,solvents,degreasersorstrongchemicalscoverorremovethealarmtemporarilytoprotectthesensor,butremembertoremovethecoverorreplacethealarmassoonastheairclearsandbeforeyouuseanyapplianceorengine.

Note these points:

CO alarms only detect, they cannot prevent the dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide

CO alarms may not fully safeguard individuals with specific medical conditions

CO alarms will not detect fires, smoke or leakages of petrol or LPG fuel vapours

A CO alarm can activate if it senses the explosive gas hydro-gen; e.g. from the boat’s batteries gassing off when under charge, perhaps indicating a charging problem

Testit Changeit Replaceit

Alwaysre-installanyalarmafterwinterisation.Thentestthealarmbeforeanyapplianceorengineisused.

Considerremovingthealarmfromawinterisedboatbecauselongperiodsofsub-zerotemperaturesmayaffectitssensorandbattery.

If you are a tenant afloat

Thelawprovidesseveraladditionalprotectionsfortenantsincludingthis:

IfyourlandlordhasprovidedLPGappliances,he/shemustarrangeforanannualgassafetychecktobecarriedoutbyaGasSaferegisteredengineer.

FormoreinformationonCOandfiresafetyonboatsandroutinesafetycheckitems-BoatSafetyScheme:www.boatsafetyscheme.org/co

ForgeneralCOadviceHealth&SafetyExecutive(HSE)GasSafetyAdviceLine0800300363www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/co.htm

IfyouareatenantinarentedboatwithconcernsaboutCO,raisetheissueswithyourlandlordorlettingagentwithoutdelayIfyourconcernsarenotdealtwith,gotothelocalcouncilforhelpIfyoufeelunwellgetmedicalhelpstraightaway.

Gotowww.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqtenant.htmformoreinformationfortenantsandthehealthandsafetyinprivatelyrentedaccommodationpagesonwww.gov.uk

Further information on CO and boating

Foralarminformation-CouncilofGasDetectionandEnvironmentalMonitoring(CoGDEM)http://cogdem.org.uk/CoGDEMCOsite/index.html

GasSafeRegister–forgasfitterswww.gassaferegister.co.uk

BritishMarineFederation–forlocalboatyardswww.britishmarine.co.uk

Charities with an interest in COTheCarbonMonoxideandGasSafetySocietywww.co-gassafety.co.uk

Acknowledgements

ThisinformationissupportedbytheCoGDEMmembercompaniesthatproduceCOalarmswww.cogdem.org.uk

CoGDEMistheUKtradebodyforcompaniesandexpertsinthefieldofgasdetection.CoGDEMprovidesitsexpertisetoUK,Europeanandglobalstandards-writingbodies,andprovidestechnicalguidanceandsupporttoallCOawareness-raisingprojectsandorganisations,includingtheHSE.

TheauthorsgratefullyacknowledgetheassistanceofthePublicHealthEnglandstaffespeciallylinkedtothemedicalinformation

TheauthorsacknowledgetheHSEleaflet‘GasAppliances-Getthemchecked,KeepthemSafe’ref:INDG238(rev2)andtheDepartmentofHealthleaflet289814’Carbonmonoxide:Areyouatrisk?’assourcedocuments.

DesignbasedonFireSafetyOnBoatsleafletwithpermissionfromFireKills(www.gov.uk/firekills)

TheauthorsaregratefultoSafelincsforitshelpwiththeartworkwww.safelincs.co.uk,suppliersofsmokealarms,COalarmsandothersafetyequipment

CO-Awarenesswww.co-awareness.com

GasSafeCharitywww.gassafecharity.org.uk

CO-Angelswww.co-angels.co.uk

GasSafetyTrustwww.gas-safety-trust.org.uk

HavenKnox-Johnstonispleasedtosupportthispublicationtohelpkeeppeoplesafeonthewater.Ithasfurtherhelpfulhintsforboatownersatwww.boat-zone.com/category/hints

CO threatens lives – stay safe, stay aware:Install fuel burning appliances properly

Maintain appliances and engines routinely

Use the equipment correctly

Don’t allow engine fumes into the cabin space

Deal with problems immediately

Don’t allow bodged repairs and maintenance

Install a CO alarm

Test the alarm routinely

Never remove the batteries

CopyrightbelongstotheownersoftheBoatSafetySchemeandCoGDEMjointly.

Thispublicationmaybefreelyreproduced,exceptforadvertising,endorsementorcommercialpurposes.PleaseacknowledgethesourceasBoatSafetyScheme&CoGDEM.

Know the signs of CO poisoning and how to react

Never bring a lit or cooling BBQ into any covered area

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