CO Poisoning on the increase

CO poisoning is on the increase! 

There were 102 carbon monoxide poisoning incidents, claiming 50 lives and causing 218 injuries, between January 2006 and April 2007.  Undiagnosed cases, plus the lack of central reporting on the issue mean the overall figures for injuries are likely to be much higher.

Causes

The majority of carbon monoxide incidents are avoidable - the most common cause of death through carbon monoxide poisoning comes from faulty or poorly maintained gas appliances (28%).

Vulnerable Groups

Children and the elderly are vulnerable groups, and they account for 50% of the fatalities and 54% of injuries. The over 55s are most likely not to have a carbon monoxide alarm because they don't think they are vulnerable to poisoning.  Furthermore one in four in this group last had their appliances checked at least three years ago.

People in rented accommodation - such as students - are also particularly at risk (27% of incidents).  A key problem for tenants is that 35% struggle or forget to get an up-to-date gas safety record from their landlord. 

Ethnic minority groups who cannot speak English are also at risk. The concerns are that some are perhaps more likely to be in poorer rented accommodation and some cases have shown they would prefer to have their gas work done by friends or relatives rather than let ‘strangers' (CORGI registered members) into their homes.

Timing & Regions

53% of the carbon monoxide incidents in 2006 were in the winter months (Nov - Feb) at the very time when CORGI members are at their busiest.  Furthermore, there have been 24 incidents in January and February 2007 alone.

Per head of population, the worst hit region for carbon monoxide poisoning is Yorkshire - where 18% of the incidents, eight fatalities and 18 injuries occurred.    People in this region are twice as likely to suffer a carbon monoxide incident than people from Northern Ireland and Scotland.  Yet people in this area are least likely to think they are at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Wales is the second most at risk hotspot, and here the results of the consumer survey showed the participants were the worst at being able to tell whether their gas appliance is working safely, by identifying a correctly burning gas flame.

Although it suffers the highest number of incidents (20% of the total), once population differences are factored in, The Midlands becomes the fourth ranking hotspot behind the North East, which is in third place.

Causes

Carbon monoxide poisoning is usually an accumulation of events, which on their own may not appear too serious, but when combined they can become deadly.  Faulty appliances that haven't been serviced, blocked flues and chimneys, as well as basic owner errors, such as blocking air vents, account for 45% of cases. 

Illegal gas workers are another major problem.  There are an estimated 3,000 illegal gas installers operating in the UK who have never been CORGI registered. The quality of their work has never been verified.  On average these workers carry out approximately 279,000 gas jobs each year.

Although they only account for just over 8% of the incidents investigated by CORGI, their detrimental impact is far greater than this because they are less likely to be educating consumers.  For instance over 89% of CORGI members surveyed said they help play an important role in educating consumers about good gas safety practice, which can reduce the aforementioned avoidable incidents. 

Illegal workers are twice as likely as CORGI members to be involved in a carbon monoxide incident investigated by CORGI. 

CORGI registered members are very worried about illegal gas workers - one in five say that more often than not they go to a home where an illegal gas worker has quite clearly been working.  These illegal gas workers trained typically 5 years ago and 37% aren't sure how they keep up to date with legislation or developments, making their unregulated work all the more dangerous.  Yet cynicism within the trade inhibits 23% from reporting illegal workers, the feeling being that nothing will happen if they do.

Consumer ignorance is a key problem, which creates a climate where illegal gas workers can flourish.  Our research shows that 32% of consumers fail to ask to see a CORGI ID card - CORGI members predict the number is closer to 55%.

Consumers are also ill equipped to protect themselves.  While the use of smoke alarms in homes is high (90%) 69% don't have a carbon monoxide alarm.  42% of consumers don't get their appliances checked annually and one in four admits they don't know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.  Even one in five of those who claim they do, got it wrong.

A shortage of CORGI members is another issue giving illegal gas workers the space to operate.  23% of CORGI members say they are too busy, 30% turn down work at least every week and 29% don't find it easy to find qualified gas employees.  Furthermore new entrants struggle to get the experience they need to become CORGI registered  - almost half of CORGI members never offer apprenticeships.