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CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY ON BOATS
How to protect you, your crew, your visitors and pets on your boat from the ‘Silent Killer’ - Carbon Monoxide
Supported by
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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