The tragic deaths of the two young children in Crete last week has touched a nerve across the nation and thrown health and safety back into the headlines once again.
The criminal investigation by the Greek police will identify whether anyone was to blame but the facts remain - the children died because they inhaled carbon monoxide gas produced by a faulty boiler or gas heater.
The HSE has re-issued its guidelines on the safety of gas appliances. Fuel gas is safe but if appliances are not properly installed and maintained by a competent CORGI-registered engineer/installer, the gas may not burn properly causing carbon monoxide gases to be released.
Carbon monoxide gas is odourless, tasteless and invisible. Symptoms are flu-like, then unconsciousness, then death. It kills by preventing the blood being oxygenated and this can happen within hours.
So, if you have a gas fire in your pub, a gas-fired boiler, gas central heating or you provide any gas appliances in any rooms rented out for bed and breakfast or as staff accommodation you MUST carry out regular service checks and maintenance. There are laws requiring gas appliances to be installed and maintained and for gas safety certificates to be provided by landlords of private rented accommodation.
- Signs to look out for in boilers, gas fires and cookers, which indicate that they may be faulty, include:
- Yellow or orange flames (unless in a fuel-effect/flame-effect fire)
- Soot or stains around the appliance
- A pilot light which frequently blows out.
Appliances should be checked at least annually and records kept.
Ensure that all rooms in which gas appliances are installed have good natural ventilation - open windows, air vents and open doors. Never block up air vents/bricks.
A carbon monoxide detector (below) should be fitted wherever there is a gas appliance - follow the manufacturer's instructions for the best location.