Contractor issues surrounding carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide remains one of the biggest issues for industry professionals as any mistakes can lead to dire situations.

The latest example comes out of North Carolina in the US where a state board has suspended a worker’s licence for completing faulty work on a pool heater.

Carbon monoxide deaths

According to a November 19 Charlotte Observer article, this poor workmanship was part of a number of errors that lead to leaking carbon monoxide that killed three hotel guests in April 2013.

The guests were staying in the room above the pool heater and all died overnight, 53 days after the faulty work was undertaken.

State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors discovered at the hearing that the man in question had converted the pool heater from propane to natural gas. However, in doing so, had violated the manufacturer’s instruction, state safety standards and created a risk to both himself and property.

As a result of the deaths, the North Carolina General Assembly has passed a law that requires all hotels in the state to install carbon monoxide alarms. These would be placed near heaters, appliances and fireplaces where carbon monoxide can be a problem.

The large hotel chain has also responded to the incident by installing carbon monoxide alarms in all guest rooms. While these measures are good, the problem in this example is the poor safety standards of the worker.

Work standards

According to statistics from The Allen Consulting Group, there is, on average, one death per year in Australia. However, there are also over 21 injuries recorded every 12 months.

This means it is important that businesses employ workers who are capable of detecting carbon monoxide problems as well as being aware of state and national standards.

In Australia, there are strict rules and regulations around maintenance and anyone who doesn’t meet the standards can face severe penalties.

It is fortunate then that Testo runs training courses especially designed for professionals who wish to learn more about carbon monoxide.

As this is a complex topic, it is best to attend a session that is presented by professionals who have been in the industry for a number of years.

Industry options

Once your employees are clued up about maintenance and carbon monoxide issues, it is vital to supply them with the best equipment available.

One option is to invest in tools such as the testo 317-3 Ambient CO meter that detects carbon monoxide levels emitted by heaters, air-conditioning systems and ventilation systems.