Safeguarding against winter carbon-monoxide poisoning claims
Any organization that maintains a building has an obligation to protect those inside the facility from this threat.
Often dubbed the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas released from poorly working furnaces or gasoline-powered equipment that can lead to tragic results.
Any organization that maintains a building has an obligation to protect those inside the facility from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. If it doesn’t, that negligence can lead to major injuries and costly lawsuits.
During the winter, temperatures plummet and heating systems can run for hours on end, leading to an increased risk of CO poisoning. The primary way organizations can avoid this is by having all furnaces, gas stoves and fireplaces checked annually by a qualified professional, who can then verify they are working properly and have adequate ventilation. This professional should inspect flue pipes for rust holes, poor connections, and blockage, such as a bird’s nest.
Other ways to prevent CO poisoning include:
- Install CO alarms. Even with regular professional checks, it’s possible for equipment to become faulty. In these cases, your best chance of minimizing damage is by catching the problem quickly. Organizations should install CO alarms throughout their facility, and if there is anyone living in the building, there should be an alarm in every bedroom. Regularly test the detectors and replace them every five to seven. years.
- Never use generators indoors. If there is a power outage, generators should always be placed 10-15 feet away from the facility.
- Consider switching from gasoline-powered equipment to equipment powered by electricity, batteries, or compressed air if it can be used safely.
- Use kitchen vents whenever the stove is on. Kitchen stoves are responsible for a large number of CO poisoning cases. Organizations should always run the exhaust fan when cooking and open a nearby window to allow fresh air to circulate.
- Clean out fireplace flues. It’s important to establish a routine of cleaning out the flue before every use to prevent it from becoming clogged. A clogged flue can trap carbon monoxide in a building.
- Never idle vehicles in a garage or outside for long. This is particularly important if the vehicle is near the building’s air input system. Such a practice could introduce CO into the system, which could put everyone in the building in danger.
- Never use gas-powered tools indoors or in confined spaces. This could result in that space becoming permeated with CO, putting the user in extreme danger.
Organizations should make themselves aware of the signs of a CO problem so they can quickly remedy the situation. Those signs include:
- Streaks of soot around fuel-burning appliances.
- Excess moisture on windows, walls, or other cold surfaces.
- Excessive rust on flue pipes, other pipe connections or appliance jacks.
- Orange or yellow flames (should be blue) in the combustion appliances.
- Small amounts of water leaking from the base of the chimney vent or flue pipe.
- Damaged or discolored bricks at the top of the chimney.
And, of course, the most important step is to protect anyone in their building if a problem is identified. Signs of CO poisoning include:
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea.
- Flu-like symptoms.
- Tightness across the chest.
- Shortness of breath.
- Drowsiness.
- Fatigue.
If someone suffers from CO poisoning in a building, the owner may be found legally liable. However, if they have taken precautions to safeguard against this situation, they may have a viable defense in a court of law.
Eric Spacek is assistant vice president of Risk Control at Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.
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