Mormon missionary deaths prompt safety warning

A recent case in Taiwan has highlighted the need for building managers and maintenance teams to consistently check appliances.

Late last month, two Mormon missionaries were found dead in their Taiwanese apartment after being reported missing. Yu Peng Xiong, 24, from Taiwan, and Connor Benjamin Thredgold, 19, from the US, had been using an indoor water heater to protect themselves from the bitter winter conditions. Mr Xiong had been a missionary since March 2013, while Mr Thredgold had only served since March.

However, when authorities investigated the scene, they found the water heater had been faulty and had been emitting dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. The colourless and odourless gas can be produced by broken or faulty heaters and air conditioners.

The deaths prompted the New Taipei Fire Department to issue a stern warning to the Taiwanese public stating that carbon monoxide poisoning can occur at any time of the year.

This message is the same for Australian’s. Although the cold winter months are now behind us, this is the time for people to have their heaters and air conditioning systems inspected and serviced.

In fact, as many people use heat pumps and air conditioners throughout summer, they will close all the doors and windows to trap the cool air. If the appliance is faulty, then it could be too late when the symptoms begin to manifest.

Industry options

For professionals and businesses that are serving and conducting maintenance on these appliances, it is important to have the right tools to sense dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Business could consider tools such as the testo 315-3 CO and CO2 Detector which can detect dangerous gas levels being emitted by heaters and air conditioning systems. Through optical and audible alarms, industry leaders can take necessary steps to prevent any incidents occurring.