Liverpool John Moores University - Long Term Exposure to Carbon Monoxide: National Study

In September 2011, the Department of Health published statistics indicating that over 4,000 people in England and Wales were diagnosed with Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning and in the same month, the CO Research Trust (formerly known as the Gas Safety Trust) published figures showing that there were 85 deaths in 2009 due to accidental exposure to CO. The Department of Health highlighted that this figure is probably under represented as the symptoms are not identified and are assumed to be linked to other illnesses. 

This research explored the levels of understanding of the issues around Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and CO poisoning of the public in the United Kingdom, as well as monitoring the continuous exposure to the low levels of CO. 

A research project was set up with Merseyside Fire and Rescue, West Midlands Fire and Rescue, Coventry Council and Liverpool John Moores University. The first phase of this project utilized the Home Fire Safety Check (HFSC), which the fire services had already conducted and extended this to include CO specific questions, and instantaneous CO reading within the house, taken while the fire personal were in the property. 

The second phase of the project placed CO data loggers within the properties, and measured CO levels for 2 weeks to see if any trends could be identified.
 

The conclusion is that the current response plan is not fit for purpose in regard to responding to a CO incident. The guidance provided eliminates all evidence of CO prior to FRS arrival, so there is no value in the crews attending and it unnecessary increases the organisational road risk. Additionally, from a corporate liability perspective it involves advising occupants to enter a potential room of origin and exposing themselves to a possible fatal dose of CO. 

These findings led to two options available to inform our change in response: 

Option 1 - Produce a revised action plan to provide advice to the occupier which is in line with national guidance from the Council of Gas Detection and Environmental Monitoring (CogDem) and additionally advise the occupier to request a Gas Safety Check through the Gas Safe Register, no MFRS response required. 

Option 2 - Advise occupants to turn off any cooking appliance if in use, vacate the property immediately, closing the door behind them. Mobilise an appliance whose crew can carry out a meaningful analysis of the property. 

Readings taken can then be passed to the gas engineer by the crew or occupant to assist with the identification of the source. Crews should also check adjacent properties if occupied and use the opportunity to complete additional HFSC’s whilst in attendance.

The results of this research has led to an early day motion being raised in Parliament by Margaret Ritchie MP (SDLP, South Down) sighting our work as the main driver for the widening and amendment of that regulation to include all rented property, private and social regardless of fuel source, this motion has now got ministerial approval from Barry Sheerman MP, and the housing legislation for Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms within the rented sector (The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) regulations 2015) is due to change to reflect the recommendations raised.