Coroner calls for all rented homes to have carbon monoxide alarms after death of Cleethorpes woman
A CORONER has urged that all rented properties are fitted with carbon monoxide alarms after a Cleethorpes woman was killed by a leak of the deadly gas.
Elaine Coley died from inhaling exceptionally high levels of gas leaked from a portable heater she had purchased for her flat in Barcroft Street.
The 52-year-old was described by her family as a sociable pet lover "who always put others first", and they have backed the Deputy Assistant Coroner Jane Eatock's call for more to be done.
An inquest, held at Cleethorpes Town Hall, heard that had it not been for a neighbour having an alarm fitted in her own property, the death toll could have been higher.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
Mrs Coley was found dead on February 1, after Rachel Butters called the emergency services when she returned home from work to find her alarm going off, as reported.
As a result, she and her partner, who live in the neighbouring terraced property, and a neighbour who lived in the flat above Mrs Coley, were evacuated. They did not suffer any adverse effects.
The inquest heard how a sweep of the gas escaping from the heater, carried out by British Gas investigator Damion Towers following the incident, revealed that carbon monoxide formed 120 parts per million. He told the court a level of just 10 parts carbon monoxide per million would usually be "a cause for concern".
Mr Towers added that due to faults with the heater, he was unable to safely connect a gas bottle "in the way the manufacturer intended" to test it. As a result, he believed the levels of carbon monoxide escaping when Mrs Coley used the appliance could have been higher.
The inquest heard she had opted not to use the wall heaters fitted in the property by her landlord, John Crampton Properties Ltd, and instead relied on her own portable heater for warmth.
Under current legislation, only appliances supplied by landlords must undergo annual safety checks and landlords are not legally obliged to install carbon monoxide alarms.
Safety checks were up to date on all the gas appliances supplied by the firm, and there was no suggestion that any of these appliances had contributed to the leak.
In a letter read in evidence at the hearing, Mr Crampton said he had not been aware that she had the heater and that its use had been in breach of her tenancy.
Mr Crampton also called for "better public awareness" of the dangers of using such appliances in enclosed and poorly ventilated areas.
After a jury recorded a verdict of accidental death, Miss Eatock said: "I am making a recommendation that all rented properties do have carbon monoxide alarms fitted.
"That's the simplest and most effective way of preventing future fatalities. If her neighbour had not had one, this could have been even worse than it is."
She said that while the home was privately rented, she will be writing to the Landlord's Association and social housing providers in the area.
"If something can come from this, it is one step forward," she added.
Beware of the silent, deadly killer with help from a local firm – see page 8.
Get advice
Anyone wanting free advice can call 0300 303 8242 or visit www.humbersidefire.gov.uk
Comments
by Jasbee
Saturday, October 06 2012, 7:45PM
“Here in North America, we can purchase an inexpensive Carbon monoxide detector that plugs in to an electrical outlet . If the CO level rises an alarm sounds. These detectors can be plugged in anywhere so you can us more than one. We have one that has never detected CO because It has never present.. Our heating system is a natural gas furnace with forced exhaust ventilation.Portable gas heaters are a no no. Co poisoning is generally caused by a car sitting running in an attached garage.”
by beardsley2
Saturday, September 29 2012, 6:12PM
“Sad to see that someone has suffered from this tragic accident.
It is not the landlords however who should be made to feel responsible to allow for imported appliance misuse. As I understand the landlord did not provide this particular heater, that was the tenants initiative.
The landlord did provide tested heaters certified as safe to use . That was his responsibility and he kept to it.
Alas an appliance has been misused or mis sold for purpose and that is where attention should be focused”
by MasterPlumber
Saturday, September 29 2012, 11:51AM
“Just so there's no misunderstanding it was the products of combustion that would have contained 120 parts per million of Carbon monoxide and not gas escaping from. With a portable appliance all of the products of combustion which would normally go out of the flue/up the chimney, on a fixed appliance are discharged into the room. This is why there is very clear guidance given on the size of rooms they should be used in and the amount of ventilation required when using this type of heater. In answer to the comment from Hedgewood there was a chance recently when the relevant section of the Building Regulations was reviewed and re-written but the powers that be, in their wisdom, decided that only in new build properties with solid fuel appliances should carbon monoxide alarms be mandatory. If we continue to allow people who have nothing to do with this field to make the decisions and write the laws then we will continue to fail in our duty to protect each other.
A. G. Brunton. CO Awareness”
by Hedgewood
Friday, September 28 2012, 9:19AM
“Landlords already pay to have a gas safety certificate annually
Elaine Coley died from inhaling exceptionally high levels of gas leaked from a portable heater she had purchased for her flat
I am not saying that carbon monoxide detectors should not be installed, what I am suggesting is that if they are made compulsory, it should be for all residential properties, not just those that already get an annual gas safety check”