Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Swansea fights the silent killer-UK
Swansea Council Energy Advice Centre has been inundated with interest in a new initiative to help protect residents from carbon monoxide poisoning.The Craddock Street service has added to its energy saving services to help reduce the risk of sickness and death from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by appliances or flues not properly installed or maintained.In the first week alone of the service, more than 100 people bought carbon monoxide alarms and many others were given advice at the centre.Known as the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas that can be produced along with other gases when carbon based fuels such as coal, wood or oil are burnt by inefficient or faulty appliances.You can't see it, taste it, or smell it but CO can kill without warning within just a matter or hours and even if a victim survives carbon monoxide poisoning it can result in permanent injury to the body's vital organs.The Council's Energy Advice Centre is offering people information and advice on the issue.It is also offering discount carbon monoxide detectors for £21.00, 50% of the recommended retail price.Visitors can also fill in an energy efficiency audit to see if as well as safer home they could also find ways to live more comfortably, cheaply and environmentally friendly.Anyone who fills in the audit will also receive a free energy saving light bulb to get their energy saving off to a simple start.Pam Walters, Centre manager said: "We are delighted at the response. People are clearly taking the warnings about Carbon Monoxide seriously and we are pleased we can help."Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be lethal, or at the least make you very ill. It doesn't discriminate between age sex or gender."Have your appliances checked annually and consider purchasing a Carbon Monoxide detector."
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Noise and Carbon Monoxide Increase Hearing Loss
Cocktail of noise and carbon monoxide increases hearing loss: study
MONTREAL - Garage mechanics, firefighters and truckers, listen up: a new study shows chronic exposure to noise plus carbon monoxide increases hearing loss.
The Université de Montréal study of 8,600 workers between 1983 and 1996 is the first to link carbon monoxide and hearing loss in humans. It is to be published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America by early next year.
Lead researcher Adriana Lacerda is to present the study on Wednesday in Vancouver at the society's annual meeting.
The results revealed that workers who were exposed to carbon monoxide and noise levels above 90 decibels - the sound of a chainsaw - had trouble hearing high frequencies (from three to six kilohertz). A larger shift was observed among workers with 25-29 years of noise exposure in the workplace.
These workers would not be able to hear birds singing or telephones ringing, study supervisor Tony Leroux told CBC News Online.
"They are not deaf but they have a larger hearing loss than we would expect if they were just exposed to noise," Leroux said.
The hearing loss took place over decades. Most workers did not show significant hearing loss until after 20 years in the work place.
The study suggested hearing loss was caused by lower levels of oxygen in the blood stream, which accelerates the deterioration of the sensory cells of the inner ear.
"The inner ear that contains the sensory cells needs a lot of oxygen to operate," Leroux said. "They are suffering from anoxia, a lack of oxygen."
Another theory is that both noise and carbon monoxide produce free radicals - atoms that attack the bonds of chemical reactions - which damage cells.
The U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health estimates that nearly one million workers are exposed to significant levels of carbon monoxide. Those at risk include welders, fork lift operators, foundry workers, industrial mechanics, diesel engine operators and miners.
Leroux said rock musicians in smoky bars would appear to be candidates for increased hearing loss, but were not studied because carbon monoxide is just one component of cigarette smoke.
Wearing earplugs is not enough to stop the damage, Leroux said. Alternative energy sources should be found for many of these workers who work with motors, he said.
And he said a growing pastime in Quebec, indoor go-cart racing, is ripe for hearing loss. Part of the solution could be powerful ventilation systems and mufflers. "But carts have to make noise to be fun," he noted
MONTREAL - Garage mechanics, firefighters and truckers, listen up: a new study shows chronic exposure to noise plus carbon monoxide increases hearing loss.
The Université de Montréal study of 8,600 workers between 1983 and 1996 is the first to link carbon monoxide and hearing loss in humans. It is to be published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America by early next year.
Lead researcher Adriana Lacerda is to present the study on Wednesday in Vancouver at the society's annual meeting.
The results revealed that workers who were exposed to carbon monoxide and noise levels above 90 decibels - the sound of a chainsaw - had trouble hearing high frequencies (from three to six kilohertz). A larger shift was observed among workers with 25-29 years of noise exposure in the workplace.
These workers would not be able to hear birds singing or telephones ringing, study supervisor Tony Leroux told CBC News Online.
"They are not deaf but they have a larger hearing loss than we would expect if they were just exposed to noise," Leroux said.
The hearing loss took place over decades. Most workers did not show significant hearing loss until after 20 years in the work place.
The study suggested hearing loss was caused by lower levels of oxygen in the blood stream, which accelerates the deterioration of the sensory cells of the inner ear.
"The inner ear that contains the sensory cells needs a lot of oxygen to operate," Leroux said. "They are suffering from anoxia, a lack of oxygen."
Another theory is that both noise and carbon monoxide produce free radicals - atoms that attack the bonds of chemical reactions - which damage cells.
The U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health estimates that nearly one million workers are exposed to significant levels of carbon monoxide. Those at risk include welders, fork lift operators, foundry workers, industrial mechanics, diesel engine operators and miners.
Leroux said rock musicians in smoky bars would appear to be candidates for increased hearing loss, but were not studied because carbon monoxide is just one component of cigarette smoke.
Wearing earplugs is not enough to stop the damage, Leroux said. Alternative energy sources should be found for many of these workers who work with motors, he said.
And he said a growing pastime in Quebec, indoor go-cart racing, is ripe for hearing loss. Part of the solution could be powerful ventilation systems and mufflers. "But carts have to make noise to be fun," he noted
Carbon Monoxide Detectors Might Become Mandatory
[Another example of pending legislation in another state! As I have said several times before in this blog, it's only a matter of time before every state requires them by law. Get one now and avoid the "cheap" detectors going up in price from almost nothing to $75 or more! You know as well as I do that the current popular companies will raise their prices if we are forced to buy. www.transducertech.com has some great information as well as a fantastic CO detector called the Pocket CO that you really should see.]
(CBS4) TALLAHASSEE The deaths of two young South Floridians are prompting legislation that would make it a requirement to have a carbon monoxide detector inside your home.State lawmakers heard tearful testimony about the importance of carbon monoxide detectors from the family members of the deceased. The families of Anthony Perez and Janelle Bertot urged lawmakers to pass proposed legislation that would require every residence in Florida to have smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors by July 2009.The bill would also mandate those detectors in all new construction starting this July.The committee approved the proposal and now it heads to the full House chamber for debate.Twenty-five-year-old Anthony Perez and 19-year-old Janelle Bertot were killed by carbon monoxide inside a car in Weston a little more than two years ago.
(CBS4) TALLAHASSEE The deaths of two young South Floridians are prompting legislation that would make it a requirement to have a carbon monoxide detector inside your home.State lawmakers heard tearful testimony about the importance of carbon monoxide detectors from the family members of the deceased. The families of Anthony Perez and Janelle Bertot urged lawmakers to pass proposed legislation that would require every residence in Florida to have smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors by July 2009.The bill would also mandate those detectors in all new construction starting this July.The committee approved the proposal and now it heads to the full House chamber for debate.Twenty-five-year-old Anthony Perez and 19-year-old Janelle Bertot were killed by carbon monoxide inside a car in Weston a little more than two years ago.
CO leak hospitalizes six in Balto.—
BALTIMORE (AP) - Officials says a water heater or a furnace may be to blame for a carbon monoxide leak that sent six residents of a Baltimore home to the hospital.
The patients were transported this morning from the 700 block of North Linwood Avenue. They include a 6-month-old baby and 9-year-old twins.
Family members woke up with headaches. The house had working smoke detectors but did not have a carbon monoxide detector.
The patients were placed in a hyperbaric chamber at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Fire officials say carbon monoxide levels in the home were at 500 parts per million, or about five times the level that usually requires an immediate evacuation. Residents of two adjacent homes were evacuated as a precaution.
The patients were transported this morning from the 700 block of North Linwood Avenue. They include a 6-month-old baby and 9-year-old twins.
Family members woke up with headaches. The house had working smoke detectors but did not have a carbon monoxide detector.
The patients were placed in a hyperbaric chamber at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Fire officials say carbon monoxide levels in the home were at 500 parts per million, or about five times the level that usually requires an immediate evacuation. Residents of two adjacent homes were evacuated as a precaution.
Woman dies of carbon monoxide poisoning in group home
HOBART, Ind. (AP) — A woman who lived in a group home for the developmentally disabled died after carbon monoxide filled the home, sickening its four other residents, police said.
Toby Sandilla, 55, was pronounced dead at the scene Saturday morning after officers arrived and found all five of the home’s occupants either asleep or unconscious due to “extremely high levels of carbon monoxide,” Hobart police said in a news release.
Two police officers who entered the home to assist were also overcome by the colorless, odorless gas and were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
“It’s a terrible accident. All the people who know the (victims) are devastated,” said Kris Prohl, executive director of ArcBRIDGES of Gary, the nonprofit group that operates the home.
Prohl said the home was equipped with a carbon monoxide detector and that an investigation will determine whether it was working properly. [Probably one of the "cheap" CO detectors you can get from Home Depot or Lowes...yet another example of "spend the money and get a GOOD detector. Take a look at the Pocket CO at www.transducertech.com.]
It was unclear why carbon monoxide filled the home. Experts say carbon monoxide often comes from an improperly operating furnace, water heater or stove.
The Lake County coroner’s office has not officially ruled that Sandilla’s death was from carbon monoxide poisoning because an autopsy and toxicology tests are pending.
ArcBRIDGES operates 29 state-licensed homes in northwestern Indiana to assist people who have developmental disabilities with daily living, Prohl said.
Neighbor Jen Lederman said the home’s occupants were rarely seen and typically only came outside when they boarded a daily bus to take them to their jobs.
“They were very nice people. You never had any problems with them,” Lederman said.
Toby Sandilla, 55, was pronounced dead at the scene Saturday morning after officers arrived and found all five of the home’s occupants either asleep or unconscious due to “extremely high levels of carbon monoxide,” Hobart police said in a news release.
Two police officers who entered the home to assist were also overcome by the colorless, odorless gas and were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
“It’s a terrible accident. All the people who know the (victims) are devastated,” said Kris Prohl, executive director of ArcBRIDGES of Gary, the nonprofit group that operates the home.
Prohl said the home was equipped with a carbon monoxide detector and that an investigation will determine whether it was working properly. [Probably one of the "cheap" CO detectors you can get from Home Depot or Lowes...yet another example of "spend the money and get a GOOD detector. Take a look at the Pocket CO at www.transducertech.com.]
It was unclear why carbon monoxide filled the home. Experts say carbon monoxide often comes from an improperly operating furnace, water heater or stove.
The Lake County coroner’s office has not officially ruled that Sandilla’s death was from carbon monoxide poisoning because an autopsy and toxicology tests are pending.
ArcBRIDGES operates 29 state-licensed homes in northwestern Indiana to assist people who have developmental disabilities with daily living, Prohl said.
Neighbor Jen Lederman said the home’s occupants were rarely seen and typically only came outside when they boarded a daily bus to take them to their jobs.
“They were very nice people. You never had any problems with them,” Lederman said.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Homes evacuated for high levels of carbon monoxide
Baltimore Fire officials evacuated residents of seven homes in East Baltimore after high levels of carbon monoxide were found there.
It happened around 5 p-m in the 2000 block of Kennedy Avenue.
Fire department spokesman Kevin Cartwright says a man came home to find his carbon monoxide detector going off and called 9-1-1.
Firefighters responded and found readings of 100 parts-per-million of carbon monoxide. Levels above 30-parts-per-million are considered unsafe.
Next door, firefighters found thick smoke and a small fire in the furnace.
Cartwright says seven houses were evacuated and ventilated until carbon monoxide readings returned to normal. The eight residents of the homes were evaluated, but no one was immediately taken to the hospital.
It happened around 5 p-m in the 2000 block of Kennedy Avenue.
Fire department spokesman Kevin Cartwright says a man came home to find his carbon monoxide detector going off and called 9-1-1.
Firefighters responded and found readings of 100 parts-per-million of carbon monoxide. Levels above 30-parts-per-million are considered unsafe.
Next door, firefighters found thick smoke and a small fire in the furnace.
Cartwright says seven houses were evacuated and ventilated until carbon monoxide readings returned to normal. The eight residents of the homes were evaluated, but no one was immediately taken to the hospital.
Monday, March 19, 2007
THE LONG HAUL
Truck drivers of all kinds confront many dangers on the roads today. From bad weather to bad drivers, some days it seems like the world is conspiring against you to keep you from delivering your load on time. While road crews shutting down 2 out of 3 lanes on a 9 degree down grade, blown tires sending rubber shrapnel everywhere, and just getting plain old tired are very tangible hazards, there is another that is very easy to overlook. It is nearly impossible to detect with your five senses and potentially more dangerous than anything else out there. This threat is carbon monoxide.
The trucking industry employs over 9 million Americans and 227,000 Canadians, making it one of the top occupations in both countries. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, the occupation of truck driver is the most frequently cited among Canadian men. These almost 10 million highly skilled and constantly tested drivers work on average 60 hours a week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, to contribute to a revenue stream approaching the trillions of dollars every year. With so many drivers on the road, in garages, and at fuel stations, one would think that carbon monoxide exposure would be a top priority. In fact it is exactly the opposite. A blown tire, dead battery, or faulty air line, while all still dangerous, vastly outweigh CO exposure as a top worry among drivers. Truckinfo.net says 51% percent of truckers are worried about shredding a tire compared to less than 1% concerned about carbon monoxide poisoning. This is not because truck drivers are uneducated, rather, it is due to a lack of awareness about what carbon monoxide is, how often exposure can happen, and how dangerous it can really be. This awareness should be provided by OSHA, the EPA, and our employers and employer organizations, but sometimes unfortunately it is not.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, and highly toxic gas. Because of this, it can kill you before you are even aware it is there. Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion. Simply put, CO can be produced by virtually any source of combustion, from vehicle engines and poorly burning or improperly vented kerosene and gas heaters or generators, to cigarettes, faulty furnaces, campfires, and charcoal grilles among hundreds of other sources. For most truck drivers, the greatest threat is from diesel exhaust, whether exposure happens inside the cab of a truck from a cracked header, or outside the vehicle by running it inside a garage.
Carbon monoxide works by combining reversibly with hemoglobin in the bloodstream, creating carboxyhemoglobin. This causes a reduction in the amount of oxygen your blood can carry to the tissues of your body. At low concentrations, an exposed person may experience flu-like symptoms like fatigue, headache, nausea, dizziness, and irritability. As exposure increases, symptoms such as impaired brain function, confusion, chest pain, and eventually unconsciousness set in. Continued exposure at very high concentrations can be fatal within minutes.
Therefore, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists), and other agencies issued Permissible Exposure Limits for carbon monoxide. These exposure limits are expressed in terms of ppm (parts per million) which basically means one part CO in one million parts air. The OSHA limit is 50 ppm as a time-weighted average, the NIOSH limit is 35 ppm as a time-weighted average with a 200 ppm ceiling value, and the ACGIH limit is 25 ppm as a time-weighted average for a normal 8-hour workday or 40-hour work week, which we all know would virtually be a vacation for most truckers. These limits were established because even at these low concentrations, people will begin to see the symptoms of CO poisoning and some people are more sensitive to exposure than others. To put this in perspective, if you were to open your window on the highway in fairly heavy, slow-moving traffic, you could easily be exposed to somewhere between 10 ppm and 45 ppm of CO. You may experience a headache (which you most likely would attribute to frustration over the traffic conditions), mild dizziness, or mild nausea. Now imagine a truck driver being exposed to those conditions 10 or more hours a day, 6 days a week. Fortunately, we do get some open road time, and if the truck is not contributing to the exposure, the clean fresh air will help clear out the carbon monoxide that is present. But, you can see how chronic CO exposure at this level can become problematic, not to mention what would happen if a crack in your exhaust header, a near worst-case scenario, caused diesel exhaust to pour into the cab of your truck. The result could be catastrophic to both the driver and the other vehicles on the road.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not in the business of trying to scare people, rather, I am in the business of educating those of you who are not aware of this potential danger. It is a real possibility, and every effort should be made to avoid excessive CO exposure. Fortunately there are readily available products out there that can alert you if you are in imminent threat of carbon monoxide exposure and poisoning. Your easiest line of defense is a CO detector that can warn you when exposure occurs so you can minimize it and avoid it.
Carbon monoxide detectors come in all shapes and sizes, all for various applications, from plug-in models for the home, to high tech, industrial grade instruments for more stringent laboratory and occupational environments. With all the choices in CO detectors out there, it is hard to tell what to look for when you are going to make that purchase. Here are the most important things to consider when buying a carbon monoxide detector:
1. Cost. I know the number one concern for a truck driver is cost, especially those of you who are owner-operators. Every dollar spent is one more dollar out of your or your company’s pocket. Now CO detectors can range in price from $20 to almost $1000 for the super advanced models, and many times, you truly do get what you pay for. A truck driver doesn’t necessarily need all the bells and whistles on a $1000 model, so take that out of the equation completely. Now on the low end you are looking at a detector with limited capabilities, sometimes not alarming until well over the recommended exposure limits, if at all, and most of those “cheap” detectors will also alarm if they come in contact with something as harmless as water vapor. Look for a detector in the $100 to $200 range. There are many out there to choose from, but in this price range you will find the best combination of affordability, accuracy, reliability, and operational features. This may sound like a lot of money for a CO detector when home versions go for $20 or $30, and we don’t want to break the bank, but ask yourself at what value do I put my health and safety?
2. Portability. As a driver, you are constantly on the move, not only in your vehicle, but outside of it as well, whether you are refueling or pushing a load onto the docks while your truck idles away in the garage. Look for a CO detector that is small enough to carry with you, on a lanyard, on your belt, or clipped to your shirt pocket. You are not going to want to carry around a CO detector the size of a Big Mac attached to your chest, let alone trying to find an out-of-the-way place to stick it inside your cab. The smaller size detector will hardly be noticeable, until of course the alarm goes off, warning you of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
3. Alarm. Speaking of the alarm, you should look for a detector with at least an 85dB alarm. Even better if the detector has multiple alarms such as a flashing LED and/or a vibrator alarm like a cell phone. If the LED and vibration don’t get your attention, the 85dB will certainly do the trick, even if you are at highway speed with the stereo blasting “Sweet Home Alabama”. These alarms should also be set to sound when your exposure exceeds the recommended OSHA, ACGIH, or NIOSH air quality standards. You can usually find that information from the individual product descriptions. Beware of detectors that do not give you that information, usually those are substandard detectors that may not sound until the level reaches close to 100 ppm, which may already be too late, depending on how long you have been exposed to that level. Ideally, your CO detector should have all the alarm settings above, and let you know.
4. Sensitivity. Find a detector that says it is a “low-level” CO detector. You want the detector to be able to read at least down to 5 ppm so you can see exactly how much CO you are being exposed to, and potentially fix any problems before they get to the “alarm” level. The digital display (yes, it must have a digital display) should also be able to read up to 400 ppm. Any higher, and it doesn’t really matter what the exact concentration is, its bad news and you need to get to fresh air fast.
5. Features. Many of the high-priced CO detectors come with a myriad of different features, most of which will never be used by the average driver. Not to worry, there are only a few must have capabilities that you need to look for in a carbon monoxide detector. Not only should it have a digital display telling you how much CO you are being exposed to as I mentioned above, it should also have dosimeter capabilities, meaning it should be able to tell you what your total “dose” of CO was over the time you were measuring. A detector should be advanced enough to tell you the time-weighted average exposure (NIOSH, ACGIH, and OSHA all set limits in these terms), the total exposure over a period of time, the maximum exposure during that time, and when that maximum concentration occurred during that time period or similar parameters. Only with these features can you get a realistic picture of how much CO you are being exposed to as well as where you were when the exposure happened so you can prevent yourself being poisoned repeatedly. The detector should also have different time modes, such as one that gives you short term readings immediately for on the spot CO checks, and another mode, 8 to 10 hours for example, so you can get a solid picture of exposure during an entire workday. And it should be simple to operate, don’t buy a detector with a 300 page manual and 16 buttons on the front; look for simplicity. There are a few detectors in this price range that feature single button operation which is very easy to use.
6. Manufacturer. Don’t get caught up in only looking at the big-box retailers when choosing a CO detector. Look around, do your research (the internet is a great place to start), and you will come out ahead of the game. Because CO detector technology is advancing so rapidly, many times the smaller companies will be able to offer a better product at a lower price. Those smaller companies tend to have a narrower product and industry focus plus low overhead, leading to the most cutting edge technology being offered in their reasonably priced detectors. After all, these small companies are trying to compete with the big boys, so they are forced to work extra hard to produce an affordable, superior product. Don’t overlook the little guy.
I realize that this is a lot of information to digest, but it is so vital to getting the most for your hard-earned money. Keep these suggestions in mind when you go shopping and you won’t be sorry.
Carbon monoxide is a problem that faces every one of the millions of truck drivers on the road all over the world. Through education, prevention, and a little good old common sense, you can steer clear of the dangers of carbon monoxide. The first step is go get a good CO detector, that way you can stay on the road, and well ahead of this “silent killer”. Drive safely, and happy trails.
Tom Stetter, Transducer Technology, Inc.
References:
Trucking Stats, Truckinfo.net, www.truckinfo.net/trucking/stats.htm
Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-07 Ed., U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov/oco/print/ocos246.htm
Environmental Protection Agency, An Introduction to IAQ, www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html
Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines for Carbon Monoxide, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/carbonmonoxide/recognition.html
Transducer Technology Incorporated, www.transducertech.com.
The trucking industry employs over 9 million Americans and 227,000 Canadians, making it one of the top occupations in both countries. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, the occupation of truck driver is the most frequently cited among Canadian men. These almost 10 million highly skilled and constantly tested drivers work on average 60 hours a week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, to contribute to a revenue stream approaching the trillions of dollars every year. With so many drivers on the road, in garages, and at fuel stations, one would think that carbon monoxide exposure would be a top priority. In fact it is exactly the opposite. A blown tire, dead battery, or faulty air line, while all still dangerous, vastly outweigh CO exposure as a top worry among drivers. Truckinfo.net says 51% percent of truckers are worried about shredding a tire compared to less than 1% concerned about carbon monoxide poisoning. This is not because truck drivers are uneducated, rather, it is due to a lack of awareness about what carbon monoxide is, how often exposure can happen, and how dangerous it can really be. This awareness should be provided by OSHA, the EPA, and our employers and employer organizations, but sometimes unfortunately it is not.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, and highly toxic gas. Because of this, it can kill you before you are even aware it is there. Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion. Simply put, CO can be produced by virtually any source of combustion, from vehicle engines and poorly burning or improperly vented kerosene and gas heaters or generators, to cigarettes, faulty furnaces, campfires, and charcoal grilles among hundreds of other sources. For most truck drivers, the greatest threat is from diesel exhaust, whether exposure happens inside the cab of a truck from a cracked header, or outside the vehicle by running it inside a garage.
Carbon monoxide works by combining reversibly with hemoglobin in the bloodstream, creating carboxyhemoglobin. This causes a reduction in the amount of oxygen your blood can carry to the tissues of your body. At low concentrations, an exposed person may experience flu-like symptoms like fatigue, headache, nausea, dizziness, and irritability. As exposure increases, symptoms such as impaired brain function, confusion, chest pain, and eventually unconsciousness set in. Continued exposure at very high concentrations can be fatal within minutes.
Therefore, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists), and other agencies issued Permissible Exposure Limits for carbon monoxide. These exposure limits are expressed in terms of ppm (parts per million) which basically means one part CO in one million parts air. The OSHA limit is 50 ppm as a time-weighted average, the NIOSH limit is 35 ppm as a time-weighted average with a 200 ppm ceiling value, and the ACGIH limit is 25 ppm as a time-weighted average for a normal 8-hour workday or 40-hour work week, which we all know would virtually be a vacation for most truckers. These limits were established because even at these low concentrations, people will begin to see the symptoms of CO poisoning and some people are more sensitive to exposure than others. To put this in perspective, if you were to open your window on the highway in fairly heavy, slow-moving traffic, you could easily be exposed to somewhere between 10 ppm and 45 ppm of CO. You may experience a headache (which you most likely would attribute to frustration over the traffic conditions), mild dizziness, or mild nausea. Now imagine a truck driver being exposed to those conditions 10 or more hours a day, 6 days a week. Fortunately, we do get some open road time, and if the truck is not contributing to the exposure, the clean fresh air will help clear out the carbon monoxide that is present. But, you can see how chronic CO exposure at this level can become problematic, not to mention what would happen if a crack in your exhaust header, a near worst-case scenario, caused diesel exhaust to pour into the cab of your truck. The result could be catastrophic to both the driver and the other vehicles on the road.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not in the business of trying to scare people, rather, I am in the business of educating those of you who are not aware of this potential danger. It is a real possibility, and every effort should be made to avoid excessive CO exposure. Fortunately there are readily available products out there that can alert you if you are in imminent threat of carbon monoxide exposure and poisoning. Your easiest line of defense is a CO detector that can warn you when exposure occurs so you can minimize it and avoid it.
Carbon monoxide detectors come in all shapes and sizes, all for various applications, from plug-in models for the home, to high tech, industrial grade instruments for more stringent laboratory and occupational environments. With all the choices in CO detectors out there, it is hard to tell what to look for when you are going to make that purchase. Here are the most important things to consider when buying a carbon monoxide detector:
1. Cost. I know the number one concern for a truck driver is cost, especially those of you who are owner-operators. Every dollar spent is one more dollar out of your or your company’s pocket. Now CO detectors can range in price from $20 to almost $1000 for the super advanced models, and many times, you truly do get what you pay for. A truck driver doesn’t necessarily need all the bells and whistles on a $1000 model, so take that out of the equation completely. Now on the low end you are looking at a detector with limited capabilities, sometimes not alarming until well over the recommended exposure limits, if at all, and most of those “cheap” detectors will also alarm if they come in contact with something as harmless as water vapor. Look for a detector in the $100 to $200 range. There are many out there to choose from, but in this price range you will find the best combination of affordability, accuracy, reliability, and operational features. This may sound like a lot of money for a CO detector when home versions go for $20 or $30, and we don’t want to break the bank, but ask yourself at what value do I put my health and safety?
2. Portability. As a driver, you are constantly on the move, not only in your vehicle, but outside of it as well, whether you are refueling or pushing a load onto the docks while your truck idles away in the garage. Look for a CO detector that is small enough to carry with you, on a lanyard, on your belt, or clipped to your shirt pocket. You are not going to want to carry around a CO detector the size of a Big Mac attached to your chest, let alone trying to find an out-of-the-way place to stick it inside your cab. The smaller size detector will hardly be noticeable, until of course the alarm goes off, warning you of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
3. Alarm. Speaking of the alarm, you should look for a detector with at least an 85dB alarm. Even better if the detector has multiple alarms such as a flashing LED and/or a vibrator alarm like a cell phone. If the LED and vibration don’t get your attention, the 85dB will certainly do the trick, even if you are at highway speed with the stereo blasting “Sweet Home Alabama”. These alarms should also be set to sound when your exposure exceeds the recommended OSHA, ACGIH, or NIOSH air quality standards. You can usually find that information from the individual product descriptions. Beware of detectors that do not give you that information, usually those are substandard detectors that may not sound until the level reaches close to 100 ppm, which may already be too late, depending on how long you have been exposed to that level. Ideally, your CO detector should have all the alarm settings above, and let you know.
4. Sensitivity. Find a detector that says it is a “low-level” CO detector. You want the detector to be able to read at least down to 5 ppm so you can see exactly how much CO you are being exposed to, and potentially fix any problems before they get to the “alarm” level. The digital display (yes, it must have a digital display) should also be able to read up to 400 ppm. Any higher, and it doesn’t really matter what the exact concentration is, its bad news and you need to get to fresh air fast.
5. Features. Many of the high-priced CO detectors come with a myriad of different features, most of which will never be used by the average driver. Not to worry, there are only a few must have capabilities that you need to look for in a carbon monoxide detector. Not only should it have a digital display telling you how much CO you are being exposed to as I mentioned above, it should also have dosimeter capabilities, meaning it should be able to tell you what your total “dose” of CO was over the time you were measuring. A detector should be advanced enough to tell you the time-weighted average exposure (NIOSH, ACGIH, and OSHA all set limits in these terms), the total exposure over a period of time, the maximum exposure during that time, and when that maximum concentration occurred during that time period or similar parameters. Only with these features can you get a realistic picture of how much CO you are being exposed to as well as where you were when the exposure happened so you can prevent yourself being poisoned repeatedly. The detector should also have different time modes, such as one that gives you short term readings immediately for on the spot CO checks, and another mode, 8 to 10 hours for example, so you can get a solid picture of exposure during an entire workday. And it should be simple to operate, don’t buy a detector with a 300 page manual and 16 buttons on the front; look for simplicity. There are a few detectors in this price range that feature single button operation which is very easy to use.
6. Manufacturer. Don’t get caught up in only looking at the big-box retailers when choosing a CO detector. Look around, do your research (the internet is a great place to start), and you will come out ahead of the game. Because CO detector technology is advancing so rapidly, many times the smaller companies will be able to offer a better product at a lower price. Those smaller companies tend to have a narrower product and industry focus plus low overhead, leading to the most cutting edge technology being offered in their reasonably priced detectors. After all, these small companies are trying to compete with the big boys, so they are forced to work extra hard to produce an affordable, superior product. Don’t overlook the little guy.
I realize that this is a lot of information to digest, but it is so vital to getting the most for your hard-earned money. Keep these suggestions in mind when you go shopping and you won’t be sorry.
Carbon monoxide is a problem that faces every one of the millions of truck drivers on the road all over the world. Through education, prevention, and a little good old common sense, you can steer clear of the dangers of carbon monoxide. The first step is go get a good CO detector, that way you can stay on the road, and well ahead of this “silent killer”. Drive safely, and happy trails.
Tom Stetter, Transducer Technology, Inc.
References:
Trucking Stats, Truckinfo.net, www.truckinfo.net/trucking/stats.htm
Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-07 Ed., U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov/oco/print/ocos246.htm
Environmental Protection Agency, An Introduction to IAQ, www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html
Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines for Carbon Monoxide, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/carbonmonoxide/recognition.html
Transducer Technology Incorporated, www.transducertech.com.
Spinach, Peanut Butter, Lunchbox Lead What's Next?
(Media-Newswire.com) - With National Poison Prevention Week approaching next week, the Ruth A. Lawrence Poison and Drug Information Center is sharing tips that'll keep you and your family safer this year. This has been a year where it seems nothing is harmless, be it the peanut butter sandwich or the lunchbox itself, said Ruth A. Lawrence, M.D., the medical director of the center, which serves the 12-county Finger Lakes area. People are increasingly concerned about food poisoning, lead poisoning and carbon monoxide poisoning, in addition to the more common poisons that are routinely stored under kitchen sinks, medicine cabinets, or in the garage.
Family escapes danger after boy hears CO alarm
ONEONTA _ Kaleb Prentice needed to get up and get something to drink late Tuesday night.
Kaleb, a second-grader at Riverside Elementary School, woke up at about 11:30 p.m. and heard the family’s carbon-monoxide detector going off.
Star photo by Julie Lewis Kaleb Prentice, 8, holds the carbon-monoxide detector Wednesday as his mother, Tera Aikens, holds Ava, 2, and Abby, 5 months, at the entrance to the basement of the family’s home on Mountainview Avenue in Oneonta.
Not knowing what it was, he woke up his mother, Tera Aikens.
A problem with a pellet stove in the basement led to a carbon-monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can poison people or lead to death.
"It was very high," Aikens said. "It was three times the regular limits."
Kaleb said his mother told him that the beeping sound he heard was probably just the television, but he knew it wasn’t.
"It was weird," said Kaleb, who is 8 years old. "I didn’t know what was going on."
Aikens tried changing the battery. When it kept going off, she called 911 and got the rest of the family _ Kaleb, 2-year-old Ava and 5-month-old Abby _ out of the house on Mountainview Drive and into the family van.
Aikens said she and her husband, Robert, have talked to Kaleb about the alarms, and he’s had some safety classes at school. Her husband wasn’t home Tuesday night because he is taking classes outside the area.
Oneonta Fire Capt. Jeffrey Walshe said nobody needed to be taken to the hospital. Firefighters cleaned out the pellet stove and vented the house to get the levels back to normal.
Problems with heating systems have led to more calls for possible carbon-monoxide poisoning, Walshe said.
"The (carbon-monoxide) detectors do their job," he said Wednesday.
Aikens said the carbon-monoxide detector was in the house when the family moved in. The pellet stove has been there for about two years.
"We’ve never had a problem with it," Aikens said.
Bette Aikens, Tera Aikens’ mother-in-law, said she was very proud of Kaleb _ and his mother.
"It’s great that he knew to wake her up," Bette Aikens said. "Some kids would have said, Oh well,’ and gone back to bed."
Tera Aikens took the children to her mother-in-law’s house to sleep Tuesday night.
Firefighters told her it was safe to sleep in the house after they vented it, but she didn’t want to take any risks.
"I was very proud of Tera, that she knew to call the firemen," Bette Aikens said. "They’re great. They’re very good."
Kaleb said the firefighters came with a "big truck."
"It was really cool," he said.
Everyone seems to be OK, Aikens said, and the house is fine. She said she talked to the children’s pediatrician, who told her they didn’t need to come in unless they were acting sleepy or showed other signs of carbon-monoxide poisoning.
Kaleb, a second-grader at Riverside Elementary School, woke up at about 11:30 p.m. and heard the family’s carbon-monoxide detector going off.
Star photo by Julie Lewis Kaleb Prentice, 8, holds the carbon-monoxide detector Wednesday as his mother, Tera Aikens, holds Ava, 2, and Abby, 5 months, at the entrance to the basement of the family’s home on Mountainview Avenue in Oneonta.
Not knowing what it was, he woke up his mother, Tera Aikens.
A problem with a pellet stove in the basement led to a carbon-monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can poison people or lead to death.
"It was very high," Aikens said. "It was three times the regular limits."
Kaleb said his mother told him that the beeping sound he heard was probably just the television, but he knew it wasn’t.
"It was weird," said Kaleb, who is 8 years old. "I didn’t know what was going on."
Aikens tried changing the battery. When it kept going off, she called 911 and got the rest of the family _ Kaleb, 2-year-old Ava and 5-month-old Abby _ out of the house on Mountainview Drive and into the family van.
Aikens said she and her husband, Robert, have talked to Kaleb about the alarms, and he’s had some safety classes at school. Her husband wasn’t home Tuesday night because he is taking classes outside the area.
Oneonta Fire Capt. Jeffrey Walshe said nobody needed to be taken to the hospital. Firefighters cleaned out the pellet stove and vented the house to get the levels back to normal.
Problems with heating systems have led to more calls for possible carbon-monoxide poisoning, Walshe said.
"The (carbon-monoxide) detectors do their job," he said Wednesday.
Aikens said the carbon-monoxide detector was in the house when the family moved in. The pellet stove has been there for about two years.
"We’ve never had a problem with it," Aikens said.
Bette Aikens, Tera Aikens’ mother-in-law, said she was very proud of Kaleb _ and his mother.
"It’s great that he knew to wake her up," Bette Aikens said. "Some kids would have said, Oh well,’ and gone back to bed."
Tera Aikens took the children to her mother-in-law’s house to sleep Tuesday night.
Firefighters told her it was safe to sleep in the house after they vented it, but she didn’t want to take any risks.
"I was very proud of Tera, that she knew to call the firemen," Bette Aikens said. "They’re great. They’re very good."
Kaleb said the firefighters came with a "big truck."
"It was really cool," he said.
Everyone seems to be OK, Aikens said, and the house is fine. She said she talked to the children’s pediatrician, who told her they didn’t need to come in unless they were acting sleepy or showed other signs of carbon-monoxide poisoning.
Portable generators pose threat outside
MADISON, Wis., March 15 (UPI) -- Portable gasoline generators used during power outages and after hurricanes can pose a major safety risk for even the most careful U.S. consumer.
A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine examined sources of carbon monoxide poisonings in Florida during the 2004 hurricane season.
"We found a number of people who made a point of placing their generators outside their homes were poisoned. Because of the amount of carbon monoxide these devices emit, they may pose a threat even when located outside," lead study author David Van Sickle of the University of Wisconsin in Madison said in a statement.
Portable generators should be located in a dry area as far away from the home as possible, but while generators need to be used outdoors in a well-ventilated area, there is no agreed-upon distance on how far from buildings they need to be, according to the study.
Van Sickle advises using an extra-long extension cord to keep the generator farther from the house and to always have a carbon monoxide detector in the home.
A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine examined sources of carbon monoxide poisonings in Florida during the 2004 hurricane season.
"We found a number of people who made a point of placing their generators outside their homes were poisoned. Because of the amount of carbon monoxide these devices emit, they may pose a threat even when located outside," lead study author David Van Sickle of the University of Wisconsin in Madison said in a statement.
Portable generators should be located in a dry area as far away from the home as possible, but while generators need to be used outdoors in a well-ventilated area, there is no agreed-upon distance on how far from buildings they need to be, according to the study.
Van Sickle advises using an extra-long extension cord to keep the generator farther from the house and to always have a carbon monoxide detector in the home.
Alarms save lives
Shirley Foley awoke Saturday morning around 5:30, with high-pitched alarms blaring. Something smelled like burnt plastic. She woke her neighbors in the two-family house in Charlestown.
Fire officials say it was a good thing. Underground high voltage power lines had ignited, possibly because they had become wet and had shorted, and were sending lethal amounts of carbon monoxide into the homes. Carbon monoxide monitors in Foley’s building went off.
"It was a pretty serious situation," Foley said. "Thank God we’re all OK, and thank God we had the monitors. We could have lost people."
Caroline Allen, a spokeswoman for NStar, said Saturday’s incident was rare and was probably caused by wet weather that allowed water to seep into underground cables and act as a conductor, shorting wires whose insulating layer had probably worn through. The underground fire sent carbon monoxide into nearby homes through ducts and pipes. It also caused a power outage that affected about 25 houses and took about 24 hours to fix.
"This is not something we hear about all the time," Allen said. "Because there were all these factors came into play at one time, it looks like that’s what caused the carbon monoxide to travel through the conduit. The good news in this case was that they had a carbon monoxide detector."
Fire officials say it was a good thing. Underground high voltage power lines had ignited, possibly because they had become wet and had shorted, and were sending lethal amounts of carbon monoxide into the homes. Carbon monoxide monitors in Foley’s building went off.
"It was a pretty serious situation," Foley said. "Thank God we’re all OK, and thank God we had the monitors. We could have lost people."
Caroline Allen, a spokeswoman for NStar, said Saturday’s incident was rare and was probably caused by wet weather that allowed water to seep into underground cables and act as a conductor, shorting wires whose insulating layer had probably worn through. The underground fire sent carbon monoxide into nearby homes through ducts and pipes. It also caused a power outage that affected about 25 houses and took about 24 hours to fix.
"This is not something we hear about all the time," Allen said. "Because there were all these factors came into play at one time, it looks like that’s what caused the carbon monoxide to travel through the conduit. The good news in this case was that they had a carbon monoxide detector."
TWO KO'D AS MANHOLE FUMES SEEP INTO APTS.
March 19, 2007 -- Deadly doses of poisonous carbon monoxide spewing from a burning Con Ed manhole nearly killed two women after it spread across a sidewalk and seeped into their Brooklyn homes yesterday.
The potentially lethal fumes sickened seven other people and forced some 300 residents into the streets for hours, fire officials said.
The two seriously injured women were found unconscious by firefighters going door to door along 55th Street in Sunset Park.
One of them was found in a brownstone basement; the other in the third-floor apartment of another building.
At least one resident insisted the fire had burned for 12 hours before Con Ed took steps to put it out, a claim the utility denied.
Con Ed spokeswoman Joy Faber could not say why so much carbon monoxide was emitted without it being detected earlier, and declined to comment on whether the thousands of manholes monitored by the utility pose an ongoing risk to New Yorkers .
Fire Battalion Chief William Tanzosh said the toxic fumes in some locations on the affected streets topped 133 times the safe level for carbon-monoxide emissions.
Among the seven people sickened were two FDNY paramedics, who rescued the two unconscious women shortly after receiving a 911 call at around noon.
"The only reason the unconscious people were found this quickly was because of [a 911 caller] who had a carbon-monoxide detector," Tanzosh said.
The potentially lethal fumes sickened seven other people and forced some 300 residents into the streets for hours, fire officials said.
The two seriously injured women were found unconscious by firefighters going door to door along 55th Street in Sunset Park.
One of them was found in a brownstone basement; the other in the third-floor apartment of another building.
At least one resident insisted the fire had burned for 12 hours before Con Ed took steps to put it out, a claim the utility denied.
Con Ed spokeswoman Joy Faber could not say why so much carbon monoxide was emitted without it being detected earlier, and declined to comment on whether the thousands of manholes monitored by the utility pose an ongoing risk to New Yorkers .
Fire Battalion Chief William Tanzosh said the toxic fumes in some locations on the affected streets topped 133 times the safe level for carbon-monoxide emissions.
Among the seven people sickened were two FDNY paramedics, who rescued the two unconscious women shortly after receiving a 911 call at around noon.
"The only reason the unconscious people were found this quickly was because of [a 911 caller] who had a carbon-monoxide detector," Tanzosh said.
The Long Haul
[This one was written completely by yours truly. It's a compilation of thoughts that I have come across over the time I have been studying CO and CO exposure. Enjoy!]
Truck drivers of all kinds confront many dangers on the roads today. From bad weather to bad drivers, some days it seems like the world is conspiring against you to keep you from delivering your load on time. While road crews shutting down 2 out of 3 lanes on a 9 degree down grade, blown tires sending rubber shrapnel everywhere, and just getting plain old tired are very tangible hazards, there is another that is very easy to overlook. It is nearly impossible to detect with your five senses and potentially more dangerous than anything else out there. This threat is carbon monoxide.
The trucking industry employs over 9 million Americans and 227,000 Canadians, making it one of the top occupations in both countries. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, the occupation of truck driver is the most frequently cited among Canadian men. These almost 10 million highly skilled and constantly tested drivers work on average 60 hours a week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, to contribute to a revenue stream approaching the trillions of dollars every year. With so many drivers on the road, in garages, and at fuel stations, one would think that carbon monoxide exposure would be a top priority. In fact it is exactly the opposite. A blown tire, dead battery, or faulty air line, while all still dangerous, vastly outweigh CO exposure as a top worry among drivers. Truckinfo.net says 51% percent of truckers are worried about shredding a tire compared to less than 1% concerned about carbon monoxide poisoning. This is not because truck drivers are uneducated, rather, it is due to a lack of awareness about what carbon monoxide is, how often exposure can happen, and how dangerous it can really be. This awareness should be provided by OSHA, the EPA, and our employers and employer organizations, but sometimes unfortunately it is not.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, and highly toxic gas. Because of this, it can kill you before you are even aware it is there. Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion. Simply put, CO can be produced by virtually any source of combustion, from vehicle engines and poorly burning or improperly vented kerosene and gas heaters or generators, to cigarettes, faulty furnaces, campfires, and charcoal grilles among hundreds of other sources. For most truck drivers, the greatest threat is from diesel exhaust, whether exposure happens inside the cab of a truck from a cracked header, or outside the vehicle by running it inside a garage.
Carbon monoxide works by combining reversibly with hemoglobin in the bloodstream, creating carboxyhemoglobin. This causes a reduction in the amount of oxygen your blood can carry to the tissues of your body. At low concentrations, an exposed person may experience flu-like symptoms like fatigue, headache, nausea, dizziness, and irritability. As exposure increases, symptoms such as impaired brain function, confusion, chest pain, and eventually unconsciousness set in. Continued exposure at very high concentrations can be fatal within minutes.
Therefore, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists), and other agencies issued Permissible Exposure Limits for carbon monoxide. These exposure limits are expressed in terms of ppm (parts per million) which basically means one part CO in one million parts air. The OSHA limit is 50 ppm as a time-weighted average, the NIOSH limit is 35 ppm as a time-weighted average with a 200 ppm ceiling value, and the ACGIH limit is 25 ppm as a time-weighted average for a normal 8-hour workday or 40-hour work week, which we all know would virtually be a vacation for most truckers. These limits were established because even at these low concentrations, people will begin to see the symptoms of CO poisoning and some people are more sensitive to exposure than others. To put this in perspective, if you were to open your window on the highway in fairly heavy, slow-moving traffic, you could easily be exposed to somewhere between 10 ppm and 45 ppm of CO. You may experience a headache (which you most likely would attribute to frustration over the traffic conditions), mild dizziness, or mild nausea. Now imagine a truck driver being exposed to those conditions 10 or more hours a day, 6 days a week. Fortunately, we do get some open road time, and if the truck is not contributing to the exposure, the clean fresh air will help clear out the carbon monoxide that is present. But, you can see how chronic CO exposure at this level can become problematic, not to mention what would happen if a crack in your exhaust header, a near worst-case scenario, caused diesel exhaust to pour into the cab of your truck. The result could be catastrophic to both the driver and the other vehicles on the road.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not in the business of trying to scare people, rather, I am in the business of educating those of you who are not aware of this potential danger. It is a real possibility, and every effort should be made to avoid excessive CO exposure. Fortunately there are readily available products out there that can alert you if you are in imminent threat of carbon monoxide exposure and poisoning. Your easiest line of defense is a CO detector that can warn you when exposure occurs so you can minimize it and avoid it.
Carbon monoxide detectors come in all shapes and sizes, all for various applications, from plug-in models for the home, to high tech, industrial grade instruments for more stringent laboratory and occupational environments. With all the choices in CO detectors out there, it is hard to tell what to look for when you are going to make that purchase. Here are the most important things to consider when buying a carbon monoxide detector:
1. Cost. I know the number one concern for a truck driver is cost, especially those of you who are owner-operators. Every dollar spent is one more dollar out of your or your company’s pocket. Now CO detectors can range in price from $20 to almost $1000 for the super advanced models, and many times, you truly do get what you pay for. A truck driver doesn’t necessarily need all the bells and whistles on a $1000 model, so take that out of the equation completely. Now on the low end you are looking at a detector with limited capabilities, sometimes not alarming until well over the recommended exposure limits, if at all, and most of those “cheap” detectors will also alarm if they come in contact with something as harmless as water vapor. Look for a detector in the $100 to $200 range. There are many out there to choose from, but in this price range you will find the best combination of affordability, accuracy, reliability, and operational features. This may sound like a lot of money for a CO detector when home versions go for $20 or $30, and we don’t want to break the bank, but ask yourself at what value do I put my health and safety?
2. Portability. As a driver, you are constantly on the move, not only in your vehicle, but outside of it as well, whether you are refueling or pushing a load onto the docks while your truck idles away in the garage. Look for a CO detector that is small enough to carry with you, on a lanyard, on your belt, or clipped to your shirt pocket. You are not going to want to carry around a CO detector the size of a Big Mac attached to your chest, let alone trying to find an out-of-the-way place to stick it inside your cab. The smaller size detector will hardly be noticeable, until of course the alarm goes off, warning you of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
3. Alarm. Speaking of the alarm, you should look for a detector with at least an 85dB alarm. Even better if the detector has multiple alarms such as a flashing LED and/or a vibrator alarm like a cell phone. If the LED and vibration don’t get your attention, the 85dB will certainly do the trick, even if you are at highway speed with the stereo blasting “Sweet Home Alabama”. These alarms should also be set to sound when your exposure exceeds the recommended OSHA, ACGIH, or NIOSH air quality standards. You can usually find that information from the individual product descriptions. Beware of detectors that do not give you that information, usually those are substandard detectors that may not sound until the level reaches close to 100 ppm, which may already be too late, depending on how long you have been exposed to that level. Ideally, your CO detector should have all the alarm settings above, and let you know.
4. Sensitivity. Find a detector that says it is a “low-level” CO detector. You want the detector
to be able to read at least down to 5 ppm so you can see exactly how much CO you are being exposed to, and potentially fix any problems before they get to the “alarm” level. The digital display (yes, it must have a digital display) should also be able to read up to 400 ppm. Any higher, and it doesn’t really matter what the exact concentration is, its bad news and you need to get to fresh air fast.
5. Features. Many of the high-priced CO detectors come with a myriad of different features, most of which will never be used by the average driver. Not to worry, there are only a few must have capabilities that you need to look for in a carbon monoxide detector. Not only should it have a digital display telling you how much CO you are being exposed to as I mentioned above, it should also have dosimeter capabilities, meaning it should be able to tell you what your total “dose” of CO was over the time you were measuring. A detector should be advanced enough to tell you the time-weighted average exposure (NIOSH, ACGIH, and OSHA all set limits in these terms), the total exposure over a period of time, the maximum exposure during that time, and when that maximum concentration occurred during that time period or similar parameters. Only with these features can you get a realistic picture of how much CO you are being exposed to as well as where you were when the exposure happened so you can prevent yourself being poisoned repeatedly. The detector should also have different time modes, such as one that gives you short term readings immediately for on the spot CO checks, and another mode, 8 to 10 hours for example, so you can get a solid picture of exposure during an entire workday. And it should be simple to operate, don’t buy a detector with a 300 page manual and 16 buttons on the front; look for simplicity. There are a few detectors in this price range that feature single button operation which is very easy to use.
6. Manufacturer. Don’t get caught up in only looking at the big-box retailers when choosing a CO detector. Look around, do your research (the internet is a great place to start), and you will come out ahead of the game. Because CO detector technology is advancing so rapidly, many times the smaller companies will be able to offer a better product at a lower price. Those smaller companies tend to have a narrower product and industry focus plus low overhead, leading to the most cutting edge technology being offered in their reasonably priced detectors. After all, these small companies are trying to compete with the big boys, so they are forced to work extra hard to produce an affordable, superior product. Don’t overlook the little guy.
I realize that this is a lot of information to digest, but it is so vital to getting the most for your hard-earned money. Keep these suggestions in mind when you go shopping and you won’t be sorry.
Carbon monoxide is a problem that faces every one of the millions of truck drivers on the road all over the world. Through education, prevention, and a little good old common sense, you can steer clear of the dangers of carbon monoxide. The first step is go get a good CO detector, that way you can stay on the road, and well ahead of this “silent killer”. Drive safely, and happy trails.
Tom Stetter, Transducer Technology, Inc.
References:
Trucking Stats, Truckinfo.net, www.truckinfo.net/trucking/stats.htm
Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-07 Ed., U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov/oco/print/ocos246.htm
Environmental Protection Agency, An Introduction to IAQ, www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html
Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines for Carbon Monoxide, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/carbonmonoxide/recognition.html
Transducer Technology Incorporated, www.transducertech.com.
Truck drivers of all kinds confront many dangers on the roads today. From bad weather to bad drivers, some days it seems like the world is conspiring against you to keep you from delivering your load on time. While road crews shutting down 2 out of 3 lanes on a 9 degree down grade, blown tires sending rubber shrapnel everywhere, and just getting plain old tired are very tangible hazards, there is another that is very easy to overlook. It is nearly impossible to detect with your five senses and potentially more dangerous than anything else out there. This threat is carbon monoxide.
The trucking industry employs over 9 million Americans and 227,000 Canadians, making it one of the top occupations in both countries. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, the occupation of truck driver is the most frequently cited among Canadian men. These almost 10 million highly skilled and constantly tested drivers work on average 60 hours a week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, to contribute to a revenue stream approaching the trillions of dollars every year. With so many drivers on the road, in garages, and at fuel stations, one would think that carbon monoxide exposure would be a top priority. In fact it is exactly the opposite. A blown tire, dead battery, or faulty air line, while all still dangerous, vastly outweigh CO exposure as a top worry among drivers. Truckinfo.net says 51% percent of truckers are worried about shredding a tire compared to less than 1% concerned about carbon monoxide poisoning. This is not because truck drivers are uneducated, rather, it is due to a lack of awareness about what carbon monoxide is, how often exposure can happen, and how dangerous it can really be. This awareness should be provided by OSHA, the EPA, and our employers and employer organizations, but sometimes unfortunately it is not.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, and highly toxic gas. Because of this, it can kill you before you are even aware it is there. Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion. Simply put, CO can be produced by virtually any source of combustion, from vehicle engines and poorly burning or improperly vented kerosene and gas heaters or generators, to cigarettes, faulty furnaces, campfires, and charcoal grilles among hundreds of other sources. For most truck drivers, the greatest threat is from diesel exhaust, whether exposure happens inside the cab of a truck from a cracked header, or outside the vehicle by running it inside a garage.
Carbon monoxide works by combining reversibly with hemoglobin in the bloodstream, creating carboxyhemoglobin. This causes a reduction in the amount of oxygen your blood can carry to the tissues of your body. At low concentrations, an exposed person may experience flu-like symptoms like fatigue, headache, nausea, dizziness, and irritability. As exposure increases, symptoms such as impaired brain function, confusion, chest pain, and eventually unconsciousness set in. Continued exposure at very high concentrations can be fatal within minutes.
Therefore, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists), and other agencies issued Permissible Exposure Limits for carbon monoxide. These exposure limits are expressed in terms of ppm (parts per million) which basically means one part CO in one million parts air. The OSHA limit is 50 ppm as a time-weighted average, the NIOSH limit is 35 ppm as a time-weighted average with a 200 ppm ceiling value, and the ACGIH limit is 25 ppm as a time-weighted average for a normal 8-hour workday or 40-hour work week, which we all know would virtually be a vacation for most truckers. These limits were established because even at these low concentrations, people will begin to see the symptoms of CO poisoning and some people are more sensitive to exposure than others. To put this in perspective, if you were to open your window on the highway in fairly heavy, slow-moving traffic, you could easily be exposed to somewhere between 10 ppm and 45 ppm of CO. You may experience a headache (which you most likely would attribute to frustration over the traffic conditions), mild dizziness, or mild nausea. Now imagine a truck driver being exposed to those conditions 10 or more hours a day, 6 days a week. Fortunately, we do get some open road time, and if the truck is not contributing to the exposure, the clean fresh air will help clear out the carbon monoxide that is present. But, you can see how chronic CO exposure at this level can become problematic, not to mention what would happen if a crack in your exhaust header, a near worst-case scenario, caused diesel exhaust to pour into the cab of your truck. The result could be catastrophic to both the driver and the other vehicles on the road.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not in the business of trying to scare people, rather, I am in the business of educating those of you who are not aware of this potential danger. It is a real possibility, and every effort should be made to avoid excessive CO exposure. Fortunately there are readily available products out there that can alert you if you are in imminent threat of carbon monoxide exposure and poisoning. Your easiest line of defense is a CO detector that can warn you when exposure occurs so you can minimize it and avoid it.
Carbon monoxide detectors come in all shapes and sizes, all for various applications, from plug-in models for the home, to high tech, industrial grade instruments for more stringent laboratory and occupational environments. With all the choices in CO detectors out there, it is hard to tell what to look for when you are going to make that purchase. Here are the most important things to consider when buying a carbon monoxide detector:
1. Cost. I know the number one concern for a truck driver is cost, especially those of you who are owner-operators. Every dollar spent is one more dollar out of your or your company’s pocket. Now CO detectors can range in price from $20 to almost $1000 for the super advanced models, and many times, you truly do get what you pay for. A truck driver doesn’t necessarily need all the bells and whistles on a $1000 model, so take that out of the equation completely. Now on the low end you are looking at a detector with limited capabilities, sometimes not alarming until well over the recommended exposure limits, if at all, and most of those “cheap” detectors will also alarm if they come in contact with something as harmless as water vapor. Look for a detector in the $100 to $200 range. There are many out there to choose from, but in this price range you will find the best combination of affordability, accuracy, reliability, and operational features. This may sound like a lot of money for a CO detector when home versions go for $20 or $30, and we don’t want to break the bank, but ask yourself at what value do I put my health and safety?
2. Portability. As a driver, you are constantly on the move, not only in your vehicle, but outside of it as well, whether you are refueling or pushing a load onto the docks while your truck idles away in the garage. Look for a CO detector that is small enough to carry with you, on a lanyard, on your belt, or clipped to your shirt pocket. You are not going to want to carry around a CO detector the size of a Big Mac attached to your chest, let alone trying to find an out-of-the-way place to stick it inside your cab. The smaller size detector will hardly be noticeable, until of course the alarm goes off, warning you of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
3. Alarm. Speaking of the alarm, you should look for a detector with at least an 85dB alarm. Even better if the detector has multiple alarms such as a flashing LED and/or a vibrator alarm like a cell phone. If the LED and vibration don’t get your attention, the 85dB will certainly do the trick, even if you are at highway speed with the stereo blasting “Sweet Home Alabama”. These alarms should also be set to sound when your exposure exceeds the recommended OSHA, ACGIH, or NIOSH air quality standards. You can usually find that information from the individual product descriptions. Beware of detectors that do not give you that information, usually those are substandard detectors that may not sound until the level reaches close to 100 ppm, which may already be too late, depending on how long you have been exposed to that level. Ideally, your CO detector should have all the alarm settings above, and let you know.
4. Sensitivity. Find a detector that says it is a “low-level” CO detector. You want the detector
to be able to read at least down to 5 ppm so you can see exactly how much CO you are being exposed to, and potentially fix any problems before they get to the “alarm” level. The digital display (yes, it must have a digital display) should also be able to read up to 400 ppm. Any higher, and it doesn’t really matter what the exact concentration is, its bad news and you need to get to fresh air fast.
5. Features. Many of the high-priced CO detectors come with a myriad of different features, most of which will never be used by the average driver. Not to worry, there are only a few must have capabilities that you need to look for in a carbon monoxide detector. Not only should it have a digital display telling you how much CO you are being exposed to as I mentioned above, it should also have dosimeter capabilities, meaning it should be able to tell you what your total “dose” of CO was over the time you were measuring. A detector should be advanced enough to tell you the time-weighted average exposure (NIOSH, ACGIH, and OSHA all set limits in these terms), the total exposure over a period of time, the maximum exposure during that time, and when that maximum concentration occurred during that time period or similar parameters. Only with these features can you get a realistic picture of how much CO you are being exposed to as well as where you were when the exposure happened so you can prevent yourself being poisoned repeatedly. The detector should also have different time modes, such as one that gives you short term readings immediately for on the spot CO checks, and another mode, 8 to 10 hours for example, so you can get a solid picture of exposure during an entire workday. And it should be simple to operate, don’t buy a detector with a 300 page manual and 16 buttons on the front; look for simplicity. There are a few detectors in this price range that feature single button operation which is very easy to use.
6. Manufacturer. Don’t get caught up in only looking at the big-box retailers when choosing a CO detector. Look around, do your research (the internet is a great place to start), and you will come out ahead of the game. Because CO detector technology is advancing so rapidly, many times the smaller companies will be able to offer a better product at a lower price. Those smaller companies tend to have a narrower product and industry focus plus low overhead, leading to the most cutting edge technology being offered in their reasonably priced detectors. After all, these small companies are trying to compete with the big boys, so they are forced to work extra hard to produce an affordable, superior product. Don’t overlook the little guy.
I realize that this is a lot of information to digest, but it is so vital to getting the most for your hard-earned money. Keep these suggestions in mind when you go shopping and you won’t be sorry.
Carbon monoxide is a problem that faces every one of the millions of truck drivers on the road all over the world. Through education, prevention, and a little good old common sense, you can steer clear of the dangers of carbon monoxide. The first step is go get a good CO detector, that way you can stay on the road, and well ahead of this “silent killer”. Drive safely, and happy trails.
Tom Stetter, Transducer Technology, Inc.
References:
Trucking Stats, Truckinfo.net, www.truckinfo.net/trucking/stats.htm
Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-07 Ed., U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov/oco/print/ocos246.htm
Environmental Protection Agency, An Introduction to IAQ, www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html
Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines for Carbon Monoxide, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/carbonmonoxide/recognition.html
Transducer Technology Incorporated, www.transducertech.com.
Trucker Deaths from CO Poisoning??
6. Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN) - October 26, 2006 Ind. driver, 45, found dead at Olive Branch truck stop A 45-year-old Indiana truck driver was found dead in the cab of his truck at the Flying J Travel Plaza in Olive Branch Wednesday morning.Police identified him Wednesday afternoon as Kevin Cox, 45, of Rochester, Ind."There was no sign of foul play or injury, but an autopsy has been ordered," said Maj. Don Gammage, chief of detectives for the Olive Branch Police Department.He said the truck, owned by Denton LLC of Rochester, Ind., pulled onto the Flying J...
11. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA) - May 28, 2006 Missing truck found in Georgia; driver dead A North Carolina truck driver missing nearly a week since he set out with an 18-wheeler full of frozen groceries was found dead Saturday near Eatonton, just 25 miles short of his destination, after his truck veered off the road into thick woods."We're not sure what happened, but we think he may have fallen asleep at the wheel, or had a heart attack," said Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills.The truck, marked with the red Ingles Markets logo, was...Purchase Complete Article, of 283 words
12. Valley Times-News, The (Lanett, AL) - August 15, 2001 Truck driver found dead at welcome center LANETT -- A truck driver was found dead Tuesday afternoon at the Alabama Welcome Center on I-85.Fifty-seven-year-old Larry E Lemmon of Ringgold, Ga. reportedly stopped at the center late Monday night. Last seen by his wife earlier that same day, he was transporting goods to the Wal-Mart distribution center outside of Opelika.Lemmon was scheduled to be at the distribution center at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. When he failed to show, the trucking company he worked for became...
16. Jefferson City News-Tribune (MO) - May 8, 2006 Truck driver found dead MATTHEWS, Mo. (AP) - A truck driver found dead inside the cab of his tractor-trailer at a truck stop in southeast Missouri apparently died of natural causes, authorities said. Another truck driver passing through the Matthews, Mo., area made the discovery at the Flying J truck stop off of Interstate 55 over the weekend.Foul play was not suspected. Coroner Jimmy McSpadden said an autopsy was planned.McSpadden said no one had spoken with the man since April 27, but it wasn't...Purchase Complete Article, of 89 words
28. York News-Times (NE) - January 28, 2005 Truck driver found dead, Officials continue to investigate case YORK -- The York County Attorney/Coroner's Office and the York County Sheriff's Department continue to investigate the death of a truck driver, who was found at the Henderson interchange early Thursday morning.According to the sheriff's department, Bobby West, 64, of Sebree, Ken., was found dead in his semi truck, which was parked at the truckstop at the I-80 interchange there. Initial observations, they said, indicated that he likely died of natural...
33. Bladen Journal (Elizabethtown, NC) - December 6, 2002 Monroe man dies on N.C. 41 A truck driver was found dead of a heart attack in his turkey truck Wednesday around 5 a.m. The truck was found in a ditch at the White Lake Baptist Church on N.C. 41. Bladen County Coroner Hubert Kinlaw said the driver, Richard Grenburiz of Wingate, suffered a heart attack while returning to Monroe.Grenburiz drove for Circle S Ranch, a poultry contractor that regularly transports birds through White Lake to a processor in Duplin County.Kinlaw said Grenburiz had told a co-worker he...
Missing tractor, trailer, contractor found
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Feb. 26, 2007) — A Warren Transport missing tractor and trailer, driven by an independent contractor and the subject of an intense search between Connecticut and Eaton, Ohio, were found over the weekend at a New York rest stop.
Warren officials reported that the driver was found dead inside the cab. The officials said the driver died of natural causes.
"Our thanks to everyone who helped us get this alert out," Bryan Molinaro-Blonigan of Warren Transport said in an e-mail. "We did receive calls from a number of people with possible leads. Unfortunately the driver had passed away of apparent natural causes and was found at a rest area in New York in his truck. Again our heartfelt thanks."
— The Trucker News Service
7. Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News - January 31, 2007 Woman missing from Yuma found dead in Iowa Jan. 31 An Oklahoma truck driver who had been reported missing at 9:30 p.m. Saturday was found dead Tuesday morning in a semi trailer at a warehouse in Chariton, Iowa. Sheila Kay Ross, 47, of McLoud, Okla., was discovered around 6 a.m. by a dock worker unloading Dole lettuce from a semi trailer at the Hy-Vee grocery store distribution center. Ross was last seen Saturday by her husband exiting their semi truck at the Dole plant, 3725 S. Avenue 3E, to go to an office for paperwork, according to a...
25. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (TX) - November 25, 2006 Third body found at Texas truck stop SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Police were investigating the death of a truck driver at the same truck stop where two people were found dead earlier this month. A friend found the body of Byron Gonzales inside his big rig Thursday morning, the Bexar County medical examiner's office said. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday.Gonzales, 42, was from California.On Nov. 1, fellow truckers found the bodies of Michelle McLean and Harry Edward Ackroyd inside the cab of an 18-wheeler parked at...
Truck driver found dead in his vehicle.
From: Post-Bulletin (Rochester, MN) Date: July 29, 2006
Jul. 29--OWATONNA -- Police on Friday discovered the body of a truck driver in his vehicle after the trucking company reported the man missing.
Owatonna police received a 911 call shortly before 1 p.m. from McCarley Moving & Storage of Columbus, Ga., asking for help locating one of the company's drivers, according to a release from the police department. The driver failed to show up at that morning in north Minneapolis as scheduled. The driver's last known location was in Owatonna.
11. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA) - May 28, 2006 Missing truck found in Georgia; driver dead A North Carolina truck driver missing nearly a week since he set out with an 18-wheeler full of frozen groceries was found dead Saturday near Eatonton, just 25 miles short of his destination, after his truck veered off the road into thick woods."We're not sure what happened, but we think he may have fallen asleep at the wheel, or had a heart attack," said Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills.The truck, marked with the red Ingles Markets logo, was...Purchase Complete Article, of 283 words
12. Valley Times-News, The (Lanett, AL) - August 15, 2001 Truck driver found dead at welcome center LANETT -- A truck driver was found dead Tuesday afternoon at the Alabama Welcome Center on I-85.Fifty-seven-year-old Larry E Lemmon of Ringgold, Ga. reportedly stopped at the center late Monday night. Last seen by his wife earlier that same day, he was transporting goods to the Wal-Mart distribution center outside of Opelika.Lemmon was scheduled to be at the distribution center at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. When he failed to show, the trucking company he worked for became...
16. Jefferson City News-Tribune (MO) - May 8, 2006 Truck driver found dead MATTHEWS, Mo. (AP) - A truck driver found dead inside the cab of his tractor-trailer at a truck stop in southeast Missouri apparently died of natural causes, authorities said. Another truck driver passing through the Matthews, Mo., area made the discovery at the Flying J truck stop off of Interstate 55 over the weekend.Foul play was not suspected. Coroner Jimmy McSpadden said an autopsy was planned.McSpadden said no one had spoken with the man since April 27, but it wasn't...Purchase Complete Article, of 89 words
28. York News-Times (NE) - January 28, 2005 Truck driver found dead, Officials continue to investigate case YORK -- The York County Attorney/Coroner's Office and the York County Sheriff's Department continue to investigate the death of a truck driver, who was found at the Henderson interchange early Thursday morning.According to the sheriff's department, Bobby West, 64, of Sebree, Ken., was found dead in his semi truck, which was parked at the truckstop at the I-80 interchange there. Initial observations, they said, indicated that he likely died of natural...
33. Bladen Journal (Elizabethtown, NC) - December 6, 2002 Monroe man dies on N.C. 41 A truck driver was found dead of a heart attack in his turkey truck Wednesday around 5 a.m. The truck was found in a ditch at the White Lake Baptist Church on N.C. 41. Bladen County Coroner Hubert Kinlaw said the driver, Richard Grenburiz of Wingate, suffered a heart attack while returning to Monroe.Grenburiz drove for Circle S Ranch, a poultry contractor that regularly transports birds through White Lake to a processor in Duplin County.Kinlaw said Grenburiz had told a co-worker he...
Missing tractor, trailer, contractor found
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Feb. 26, 2007) — A Warren Transport missing tractor and trailer, driven by an independent contractor and the subject of an intense search between Connecticut and Eaton, Ohio, were found over the weekend at a New York rest stop.
Warren officials reported that the driver was found dead inside the cab. The officials said the driver died of natural causes.
"Our thanks to everyone who helped us get this alert out," Bryan Molinaro-Blonigan of Warren Transport said in an e-mail. "We did receive calls from a number of people with possible leads. Unfortunately the driver had passed away of apparent natural causes and was found at a rest area in New York in his truck. Again our heartfelt thanks."
— The Trucker News Service
7. Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News - January 31, 2007 Woman missing from Yuma found dead in Iowa Jan. 31 An Oklahoma truck driver who had been reported missing at 9:30 p.m. Saturday was found dead Tuesday morning in a semi trailer at a warehouse in Chariton, Iowa. Sheila Kay Ross, 47, of McLoud, Okla., was discovered around 6 a.m. by a dock worker unloading Dole lettuce from a semi trailer at the Hy-Vee grocery store distribution center. Ross was last seen Saturday by her husband exiting their semi truck at the Dole plant, 3725 S. Avenue 3E, to go to an office for paperwork, according to a...
25. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (TX) - November 25, 2006 Third body found at Texas truck stop SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Police were investigating the death of a truck driver at the same truck stop where two people were found dead earlier this month. A friend found the body of Byron Gonzales inside his big rig Thursday morning, the Bexar County medical examiner's office said. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday.Gonzales, 42, was from California.On Nov. 1, fellow truckers found the bodies of Michelle McLean and Harry Edward Ackroyd inside the cab of an 18-wheeler parked at...
Truck driver found dead in his vehicle.
From: Post-Bulletin (Rochester, MN) Date: July 29, 2006
Jul. 29--OWATONNA -- Police on Friday discovered the body of a truck driver in his vehicle after the trucking company reported the man missing.
Owatonna police received a 911 call shortly before 1 p.m. from McCarley Moving & Storage of Columbus, Ga., asking for help locating one of the company's drivers, according to a release from the police department. The driver failed to show up at that morning in north Minneapolis as scheduled. The driver's last known location was in Owatonna.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Transducer Technology Inc. and KWJ Engineering Inc. Announce New Pocket Series of Toxic Gas Detection Dosimeter Instruments for Carbon Monoxide (CO)
A joint venture produces further miniaturization of toxic gas detection instruments requiring ultra low power, yet capable of an 85 decibel audible alarm, flashing visual LED alarm and vibration alarm. The nanoelectronic toxic gas instrument detects low levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and is used to protect human health compliant with OSHA and ACGIH requirements.
NEWARK, CA (PRWEB) March 12, 2007 -- Transducer Technology Inc. and KWJ Engineering Inc., both Silicon Valley companies specializing in industrial and personal safety devices, create a joint venture to deliver 1-600 PPM level nanoelectronic toxic gas detection instruments in car door opener size water and dust resistant cases. The nanoelectronic carbon monoxide detecting instrument, called Pocket CO has an 85 decibel alarm at 2 feet, a vibrating alarm, and LED warning of toxic gas. With a weight of less than 2 ounces it is the smallest known loud alarm detector/dosimeter presently available. The applications range from industrial occupational safety, first responders, vehicle operators, fire safety, inspectors, aviation, confined spaces and personal safety.
Carbon monoxide, a toxic gas both odorless and colorless, is produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels. Carbon monoxide can also be produced by the incomplete combustion of natural and synthetic products including cigarettes. Carbon monoxide can prevent the blood from bringing oxygen to the cells in humans causing serious health effects and sometimes death. Low level carbon monoxide exposure can cause chronic health conditions.
About Transducer Technology:
Transducer Technology, Inc. was founded in 1999 to provide novel and uniquely engineered ultra low power and low cost chemical sensor products using cutting-edge nano- and micro-scale materials and MEMS processing. TTI seeks to protect human health and ensure environmental safety as well as improve processing with high performance solution-driven sensor products. For more information, please visit http://www.transducertech.com/ or web search "Pocket CO."
About KWJ Engineering:
KWJ Engineering Inc. is a California corporation dedicated to specialized gas detection applications in the safety field. The Company was started in 1993 by Kenneth W. Johnson, together with his son Larry W. Johnson, to continue work in specialized types of gas detection instrumentation, after the sale of his previous company, GasTech, to Thermo Electron in 1992. Staffed by personnel experienced in the manufacture and supply of electrically operated gas detection instruments, the Company can bring together the elements needed to solve any detection problem. For more information please visit: http://www.kwjengineering.com/.
NEWARK, CA (PRWEB) March 12, 2007 -- Transducer Technology Inc. and KWJ Engineering Inc., both Silicon Valley companies specializing in industrial and personal safety devices, create a joint venture to deliver 1-600 PPM level nanoelectronic toxic gas detection instruments in car door opener size water and dust resistant cases. The nanoelectronic carbon monoxide detecting instrument, called Pocket CO has an 85 decibel alarm at 2 feet, a vibrating alarm, and LED warning of toxic gas. With a weight of less than 2 ounces it is the smallest known loud alarm detector/dosimeter presently available. The applications range from industrial occupational safety, first responders, vehicle operators, fire safety, inspectors, aviation, confined spaces and personal safety.
Carbon monoxide, a toxic gas both odorless and colorless, is produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels. Carbon monoxide can also be produced by the incomplete combustion of natural and synthetic products including cigarettes. Carbon monoxide can prevent the blood from bringing oxygen to the cells in humans causing serious health effects and sometimes death. Low level carbon monoxide exposure can cause chronic health conditions.
About Transducer Technology:
Transducer Technology, Inc. was founded in 1999 to provide novel and uniquely engineered ultra low power and low cost chemical sensor products using cutting-edge nano- and micro-scale materials and MEMS processing. TTI seeks to protect human health and ensure environmental safety as well as improve processing with high performance solution-driven sensor products. For more information, please visit http://www.transducertech.com/ or web search "Pocket CO."
About KWJ Engineering:
KWJ Engineering Inc. is a California corporation dedicated to specialized gas detection applications in the safety field. The Company was started in 1993 by Kenneth W. Johnson, together with his son Larry W. Johnson, to continue work in specialized types of gas detection instrumentation, after the sale of his previous company, GasTech, to Thermo Electron in 1992. Staffed by personnel experienced in the manufacture and supply of electrically operated gas detection instruments, the Company can bring together the elements needed to solve any detection problem. For more information please visit: http://www.kwjengineering.com/.
Mayor Bloomberg Discusses Fire Safety in Weekly Radio Address
The following is the text of Mayor Bloomberg's weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, March 11, 2007
"Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
"Today is the beginning of Daylight Saving Time - and I hope you all remembered to move your clocks one hour forward. The day is also a good reminder to change the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors - perhaps the best defense we have against a fatal accident in the home.
"Last week, we were reminded of just how important smoke detectors are, when a fire ripped through a home in the Highbridge section of the Bronx, claiming the lives of nine New Yorkers, including eight young children. Several more family members were very badly injured in this terrible tragedy, one of the most deadly fires in recent memory. I know our prayers are with their families, who must be experiencing unimaginable pain and grief.
"Since the first hours after the fire, our Administration has been on the ground, offering whatever possible support we can. Key City agencies have been working with the Red Cross to provide food, clothing, housing, transportation, and medical services to all the victims - and we will continue to do that for as long as it's needed.
"We are also working hard to do everything we can to prevent more tragedies like this from happening. The most heartbreaking part of this story is that the blaze - like so many other fires in our city - could have been prevented. So to try to make something positive come out of this awful loss, we want to urge all New Yorkers to take some simple steps that dramatically reduce the risk of fire.
"First, when the weather is as cold as it has been lately, it's important to be careful about how we keep our homes warm. If you use a space heater, make sure it is UL-approved and operating away from your furniture, bedding, curtains, or other flammable materials. And never, ever use an oven or other kitchen appliance to heat your home.
"Candles are also particularly dangerous. If you use them, make sure they are placed in secure holders and on level, stable surfaces - and never on floors where they can easily be knocked over. Keep them away from flammable materials, and don't leave them unattended.
"The most important safety tips are those we stress every day of the year - no matter what the weather: The number one cause of fatal fires is careless smoking. So always extinguish cigarettes and cigars completely, and never smoke in bed. And again, make sure you have a working smoke detector on every level of your home - and a working carbon monoxide detector near all sleeping areas.
"Finally, if a fire does occur, get out of the house as quickly as possible - and you can help contain it and possibly save lives by closing the doors behind you. Then, use the nearest phone to call 911. Every family should develop and discuss a fire escape plan - and practice it. That's especially important if you have children. It only takes a few minutes, but it could save lives.
"Additional safety tips are available on the Fire Department's Web site, or at any one of our firehouses throughout the five boroughs. If things do go wrong, you can count on New York's Bravest, the greatest firefighters in the world, but remember: fire prevention begins with all of us in the home.
"This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Thanks for listening, and please stay safe."
"Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
"Today is the beginning of Daylight Saving Time - and I hope you all remembered to move your clocks one hour forward. The day is also a good reminder to change the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors - perhaps the best defense we have against a fatal accident in the home.
"Last week, we were reminded of just how important smoke detectors are, when a fire ripped through a home in the Highbridge section of the Bronx, claiming the lives of nine New Yorkers, including eight young children. Several more family members were very badly injured in this terrible tragedy, one of the most deadly fires in recent memory. I know our prayers are with their families, who must be experiencing unimaginable pain and grief.
"Since the first hours after the fire, our Administration has been on the ground, offering whatever possible support we can. Key City agencies have been working with the Red Cross to provide food, clothing, housing, transportation, and medical services to all the victims - and we will continue to do that for as long as it's needed.
"We are also working hard to do everything we can to prevent more tragedies like this from happening. The most heartbreaking part of this story is that the blaze - like so many other fires in our city - could have been prevented. So to try to make something positive come out of this awful loss, we want to urge all New Yorkers to take some simple steps that dramatically reduce the risk of fire.
"First, when the weather is as cold as it has been lately, it's important to be careful about how we keep our homes warm. If you use a space heater, make sure it is UL-approved and operating away from your furniture, bedding, curtains, or other flammable materials. And never, ever use an oven or other kitchen appliance to heat your home.
"Candles are also particularly dangerous. If you use them, make sure they are placed in secure holders and on level, stable surfaces - and never on floors where they can easily be knocked over. Keep them away from flammable materials, and don't leave them unattended.
"The most important safety tips are those we stress every day of the year - no matter what the weather: The number one cause of fatal fires is careless smoking. So always extinguish cigarettes and cigars completely, and never smoke in bed. And again, make sure you have a working smoke detector on every level of your home - and a working carbon monoxide detector near all sleeping areas.
"Finally, if a fire does occur, get out of the house as quickly as possible - and you can help contain it and possibly save lives by closing the doors behind you. Then, use the nearest phone to call 911. Every family should develop and discuss a fire escape plan - and practice it. That's especially important if you have children. It only takes a few minutes, but it could save lives.
"Additional safety tips are available on the Fire Department's Web site, or at any one of our firehouses throughout the five boroughs. If things do go wrong, you can count on New York's Bravest, the greatest firefighters in the world, but remember: fire prevention begins with all of us in the home.
"This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Thanks for listening, and please stay safe."
Requiring Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Public Buildings
The Oklahoma State Senate unanimously passes a measure designed to fight a silent killer. The bill requires carbon monoxide detectors in most public buildings like hotels, movie theaters, college dorms and more. News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports supporters hope it saves lives.
Pam Manos of McAlester says there isn't a day that goes by she doesn't think of her daughter.
"Faulty heater. Went to sleep and she never woke up," said Manos.
Three years ago last January, Amanda died from carbon monoxide poisoning, she was only 20.
"It's just a huge hole in your heart. That is going to be there forever,” said Manos. “She was our only child. She was the light of our life. She and I were best friends and she had the whole world ahead of her."
Manos is part of a group lobbying lawmakers to support carbon monoxide legislation. Senate Bill 133 passed unanimously in the State Senate. It requires homes built after November 1, 2008, to install carbon monoxide alarms. Also under the measure, places like nursing homes, apartments, churches and hotels would also have to install carbon monoxide detectors.
"If nothing else, people know to have a fire detector, smoke detector and why not have this too?" Manos said.
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas and is the leading cause of accidental poisonings in the United States. Each year it kills more than 2,000 people nationwide. The only way to detect it is with a carbon monoxide alarm.
Pam Manos of McAlester says there isn't a day that goes by she doesn't think of her daughter.
"Faulty heater. Went to sleep and she never woke up," said Manos.
Three years ago last January, Amanda died from carbon monoxide poisoning, she was only 20.
"It's just a huge hole in your heart. That is going to be there forever,” said Manos. “She was our only child. She was the light of our life. She and I were best friends and she had the whole world ahead of her."
Manos is part of a group lobbying lawmakers to support carbon monoxide legislation. Senate Bill 133 passed unanimously in the State Senate. It requires homes built after November 1, 2008, to install carbon monoxide alarms. Also under the measure, places like nursing homes, apartments, churches and hotels would also have to install carbon monoxide detectors.
"If nothing else, people know to have a fire detector, smoke detector and why not have this too?" Manos said.
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas and is the leading cause of accidental poisonings in the United States. Each year it kills more than 2,000 people nationwide. The only way to detect it is with a carbon monoxide alarm.
Transducer Technology Inc. and KWJ Engineering Inc. Announce New Pocket Series of Toxic Gas Detection Dosimeter Instruments for Carbon Monoxide (CO)
A joint venture produces further miniaturization of toxic gas detection instruments requiring ultra low power, yet capable of an 85 decibel audible alarm, flashing visual LED alarm and vibration alarm. The nanoelectronic toxic gas instrument detects low levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and is used to protect human health compliant with OSHA and ACGIH requirements.
NEWARK, CA (PRWEB) March 12, 2007 -- Transducer Technology Inc. and KWJ Engineering Inc., both Silicon Valley companies specializing in industrial and personal safety devices, create a joint venture to deliver 1-600 PPM level nanoelectronic toxic gas detection instruments in car door opener size water and dust resistant cases. The nanoelectronic carbon monoxide detecting instrument, called Pocket CO has an 85 decibel alarm at 2 feet, a vibrating alarm, and LED warning of toxic gas. With a weight of less than 2 ounces it is the smallest known loud alarm detector/dosimeter presently available. The applications range from industrial occupational safety, first responders, vehicle operators, fire safety, inspectors, aviation, confined spaces and personal safety.
Carbon monoxide, a toxic gas both odorless and colorless, is produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels. Carbon monoxide can also be produced by the incomplete combustion of natural and synthetic products including cigarettes. Carbon monoxide can prevent the blood from bringing oxygen to the cells in humans causing serious health effects and sometimes death. Low level carbon monoxide exposure can cause chronic health conditions.
About Transducer Technology:
Transducer Technology, Inc. was founded in 1999 to provide novel and uniquely engineered ultra low power and low cost chemical sensor products using cutting-edge nano- and micro-scale materials and MEMS processing. TTI seeks to protect human health and ensure environmental safety as well as improve processing with high performance solution-driven sensor products. For more information, please visit http://www.transducertech.com/ or web search "Pocket CO."
About KWJ Engineering:
KWJ Engineering Inc. is a California corporation dedicated to specialized gas detection applications in the safety field. The Company was started in 1993 by Kenneth W. Johnson, together with his son Larry W. Johnson, to continue work in specialized types of gas detection instrumentation, after the sale of his previous company, GasTech, to Thermo Electron in 1992. Staffed by personnel experienced in the manufacture and supply of electrically operated gas detection instruments, the Company can bring together the elements needed to solve any detection problem. For more information please visit: http://www.kwjengineering.com/.
NEWARK, CA (PRWEB) March 12, 2007 -- Transducer Technology Inc. and KWJ Engineering Inc., both Silicon Valley companies specializing in industrial and personal safety devices, create a joint venture to deliver 1-600 PPM level nanoelectronic toxic gas detection instruments in car door opener size water and dust resistant cases. The nanoelectronic carbon monoxide detecting instrument, called Pocket CO has an 85 decibel alarm at 2 feet, a vibrating alarm, and LED warning of toxic gas. With a weight of less than 2 ounces it is the smallest known loud alarm detector/dosimeter presently available. The applications range from industrial occupational safety, first responders, vehicle operators, fire safety, inspectors, aviation, confined spaces and personal safety.
Carbon monoxide, a toxic gas both odorless and colorless, is produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels. Carbon monoxide can also be produced by the incomplete combustion of natural and synthetic products including cigarettes. Carbon monoxide can prevent the blood from bringing oxygen to the cells in humans causing serious health effects and sometimes death. Low level carbon monoxide exposure can cause chronic health conditions.
About Transducer Technology:
Transducer Technology, Inc. was founded in 1999 to provide novel and uniquely engineered ultra low power and low cost chemical sensor products using cutting-edge nano- and micro-scale materials and MEMS processing. TTI seeks to protect human health and ensure environmental safety as well as improve processing with high performance solution-driven sensor products. For more information, please visit http://www.transducertech.com/ or web search "Pocket CO."
About KWJ Engineering:
KWJ Engineering Inc. is a California corporation dedicated to specialized gas detection applications in the safety field. The Company was started in 1993 by Kenneth W. Johnson, together with his son Larry W. Johnson, to continue work in specialized types of gas detection instrumentation, after the sale of his previous company, GasTech, to Thermo Electron in 1992. Staffed by personnel experienced in the manufacture and supply of electrically operated gas detection instruments, the Company can bring together the elements needed to solve any detection problem. For more information please visit: http://www.kwjengineering.com/.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Gas leak sickens area man
Carbon monoxide and natural gas fill apartment
22-year-old Port Huron man was taken to Port Huron Hospital on Thursday morning for suspected carbon-monoxide poisoning after firefighters found high levels of the deadly gas and extremely high levels of natural gas in his Water Street apartment.
Port Huron Fire Lt. Mark Kern said the man had been released from the hospital Thursday afternoon after being tested to determine if carbon monoxide caused him to become ill.
The owner of Sunshine Pet Grooming, 1445 Water St., a business adjoining the man's apartment, reported smelling natural gas about 8 a.m.
"(The apartment resident) was conscious, but he was feeling tired and ill, which are some low-level, carbon-monoxide poisoning symptoms," Kern said Thursday morning.
Kern said an investigation found natural gas flowing freely from an uncapped gas line in the apartment. The gas line was supposed to be connected to the man's dryer. Firefighters are trying to determine how the gas line got disconnected.
Carbon-monoxide readings reached about 70 parts per million inside the building, Kern said, which is enough to cause illness. Officials are trying to determine how carbon monoxide built up inside the apartment.
22-year-old Port Huron man was taken to Port Huron Hospital on Thursday morning for suspected carbon-monoxide poisoning after firefighters found high levels of the deadly gas and extremely high levels of natural gas in his Water Street apartment.
Port Huron Fire Lt. Mark Kern said the man had been released from the hospital Thursday afternoon after being tested to determine if carbon monoxide caused him to become ill.
The owner of Sunshine Pet Grooming, 1445 Water St., a business adjoining the man's apartment, reported smelling natural gas about 8 a.m.
"(The apartment resident) was conscious, but he was feeling tired and ill, which are some low-level, carbon-monoxide poisoning symptoms," Kern said Thursday morning.
Kern said an investigation found natural gas flowing freely from an uncapped gas line in the apartment. The gas line was supposed to be connected to the man's dryer. Firefighters are trying to determine how the gas line got disconnected.
Carbon-monoxide readings reached about 70 parts per million inside the building, Kern said, which is enough to cause illness. Officials are trying to determine how carbon monoxide built up inside the apartment.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
CO detectors now mandatory
Bethlehem law covers buildings where fossil fuels, wood burned
All buildings in Bethlehem with fossil fuel- and wood-burning systems will be required to have carbon monoxide detectors installed thanks to a new law City Council adopted Tuesday night.
With adoption, Bethlehem became the first city in the Lehigh Valley and perhaps among the first municipalities in the state to require carbon monoxide detectors.
Most municipalities in Pennsylvania rely on the state's building code to guide building inspections. But while New Jersey, New York and Illinois building codes require carbon monoxide detectors, Pennsylvania's building code does not.
Council adopted the law, which was sponsored by members Joseph F. Leeson Jr. and Magdalena Szabo, by a 6-0 vote with no discussion. Council President J. Michael Schweder was not in attendance.
Among the items that produce carbon monoxide in homes are wood pellet and gas stoves, fireplaces, kerosene heaters and oil- and gas-fired furnaces. Buildings with these or similar items, plus any homes with attached garages, must have a detector installed under the new law. Cars also produce carbon monoxide.
Enforcement of the new law will come gradually. Inspectors plan to focus first on new buildings and home inspections of sold properties.
The penalty for not obeying the new law can be fines of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail. [Yikes! I'd rather spend $100 or $200 on a good CO detector. It would be a bargain compared to $1000 and jail time! Check out www.transducertech.com and look at the Pocket CO. Not only will it detect carbon monoxide, but it will also keep you out of the "big house"!]
All buildings in Bethlehem with fossil fuel- and wood-burning systems will be required to have carbon monoxide detectors installed thanks to a new law City Council adopted Tuesday night.
With adoption, Bethlehem became the first city in the Lehigh Valley and perhaps among the first municipalities in the state to require carbon monoxide detectors.
Most municipalities in Pennsylvania rely on the state's building code to guide building inspections. But while New Jersey, New York and Illinois building codes require carbon monoxide detectors, Pennsylvania's building code does not.
Council adopted the law, which was sponsored by members Joseph F. Leeson Jr. and Magdalena Szabo, by a 6-0 vote with no discussion. Council President J. Michael Schweder was not in attendance.
Among the items that produce carbon monoxide in homes are wood pellet and gas stoves, fireplaces, kerosene heaters and oil- and gas-fired furnaces. Buildings with these or similar items, plus any homes with attached garages, must have a detector installed under the new law. Cars also produce carbon monoxide.
Enforcement of the new law will come gradually. Inspectors plan to focus first on new buildings and home inspections of sold properties.
The penalty for not obeying the new law can be fines of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail. [Yikes! I'd rather spend $100 or $200 on a good CO detector. It would be a bargain compared to $1000 and jail time! Check out www.transducertech.com and look at the Pocket CO. Not only will it detect carbon monoxide, but it will also keep you out of the "big house"!]
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
[Utah now jumping on the bandwagon! It won't be long now until every state requires CO detectors in every residence and office building. Get yours now, www.transducertech.com, click products, then Pocket CO.]
The Ogden City Council has taken the unprecedented step in Utah of requiring every residence in the city to have a carbon monoxide detector. It is now the law punishable by a fine.
It is an intriguing, potentially life-saving approach to dealing with what has been described as a "silent killer." An incident in Ogden last year helped push Ogden City leaders to adopt the ordinance. Carbon monoxide was blamed for a man's death and the poisoning of three Ogden police officers who became ill while investigating what happened. Across the nation, hundreds die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
There'll be those who will vociferously argue such an ordinance is an unnecessary intrusion of government - that the use of CO detectors should be voluntary. But sometimes the force of law is needed to awaken people to the benefits of certain life-protecting devices.
It will be worth watching what happens in Ogden as the new ordinance is implemented - to see how the community responds and what impact it has.
Meantime, Ogden's decision offers a timely reminder for all citizens regardless of where they live to take steps to protect themselves from needless harm. Installing a carbon monoxide detector in one's residence makes sense, whether required by city ordinance or not.
The Ogden City Council has taken the unprecedented step in Utah of requiring every residence in the city to have a carbon monoxide detector. It is now the law punishable by a fine.
It is an intriguing, potentially life-saving approach to dealing with what has been described as a "silent killer." An incident in Ogden last year helped push Ogden City leaders to adopt the ordinance. Carbon monoxide was blamed for a man's death and the poisoning of three Ogden police officers who became ill while investigating what happened. Across the nation, hundreds die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
There'll be those who will vociferously argue such an ordinance is an unnecessary intrusion of government - that the use of CO detectors should be voluntary. But sometimes the force of law is needed to awaken people to the benefits of certain life-protecting devices.
It will be worth watching what happens in Ogden as the new ordinance is implemented - to see how the community responds and what impact it has.
Meantime, Ogden's decision offers a timely reminder for all citizens regardless of where they live to take steps to protect themselves from needless harm. Installing a carbon monoxide detector in one's residence makes sense, whether required by city ordinance or not.
Conroe man found dead after house fire
In Conroe a man in his late 60s or early 70s was found dead inside his home after a fire.
Investigators say the flames somehow started on the couch but didn’t spread.
Officials say the man, who was found on the kitchen floor, died of smoke inhalation.
The smoke detector that was closet to the fire was reportedly not working.
Two years ago, the victim’s wife died after a carbon monoxide leak inside that same home.
Investigators say the flames somehow started on the couch but didn’t spread.
Officials say the man, who was found on the kitchen floor, died of smoke inhalation.
The smoke detector that was closet to the fire was reportedly not working.
Two years ago, the victim’s wife died after a carbon monoxide leak inside that same home.
Family home contaminated with CO
Can't go back until home passes inspection
CREVE COEUR -- A Creve Coeur family can not return to its home after a carbon monoxide leak contaminated the house.
The family woke up Wednesday morning to toxic levels of the gas from a furnace which had been leaking for some time.
Two adults and a 5-year-old boy became sick.
The Creve Coeur police chief says the furnace has been a problem in the past.
Chief Mike Button says the family will be issued a citation because the home did not have a carbon monoxide detector.
"The law is there for a reason we're going to enforce it fortunately nobody was seriously injured in this incident but it could serve as a lesson to a lot of people in the community that it could happen to anybody whether it's a new house or an old house," said Button.
The family can return to the home after its passed an inspection by the fire department. [So not only do they get sick, but they also get virtually kicked out of their home until it passes an inspection! I think it would have been wiser and more cost effective to have bought a CO detector like the Pocket CO from www.transducertech.com and saved themselves a heap of trouble.]
A state law requires every home to have a carbon monoxide detector.
CREVE COEUR -- A Creve Coeur family can not return to its home after a carbon monoxide leak contaminated the house.
The family woke up Wednesday morning to toxic levels of the gas from a furnace which had been leaking for some time.
Two adults and a 5-year-old boy became sick.
The Creve Coeur police chief says the furnace has been a problem in the past.
Chief Mike Button says the family will be issued a citation because the home did not have a carbon monoxide detector.
"The law is there for a reason we're going to enforce it fortunately nobody was seriously injured in this incident but it could serve as a lesson to a lot of people in the community that it could happen to anybody whether it's a new house or an old house," said Button.
The family can return to the home after its passed an inspection by the fire department. [So not only do they get sick, but they also get virtually kicked out of their home until it passes an inspection! I think it would have been wiser and more cost effective to have bought a CO detector like the Pocket CO from www.transducertech.com and saved themselves a heap of trouble.]
A state law requires every home to have a carbon monoxide detector.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Family Saved by Carbon Monoxide Detector
It was about 4:00 a.m. when Sharron Peltier heard the carbon monoxide alarm going off. Along with her husband Paul, Sharron checked the detector they just bought two months ago and found it had a reading of about 70 ppm.
The Peltiers woke up their children and started opening windows. At that time, Paul remembered unusually high snow drifts he saw outside the day before. He says a drift piled about five feet high had covered the utility meters outside the house, as well as the furnace vents. Carbon monoxide was pouring into the house.
The Peltiers got the biggest surprise when they plugged in a detector in the basement. The reading there was up to 500 ppm. 400 ppm is life-threatening after four hours of exposure. [Actually, 400ppm is life threatening almost immediately. If you walked into a room with 400ppm of CO in it, you'd get sick within minutes. See more info about CO in this blog, or go to www.transducertech.com and look for the Pocket CO.] Had anyone been sleeping in the basement, they likely would not have made it through the night.
The Peltiers woke up their children and started opening windows. At that time, Paul remembered unusually high snow drifts he saw outside the day before. He says a drift piled about five feet high had covered the utility meters outside the house, as well as the furnace vents. Carbon monoxide was pouring into the house.
The Peltiers got the biggest surprise when they plugged in a detector in the basement. The reading there was up to 500 ppm. 400 ppm is life-threatening after four hours of exposure. [Actually, 400ppm is life threatening almost immediately. If you walked into a room with 400ppm of CO in it, you'd get sick within minutes. See more info about CO in this blog, or go to www.transducertech.com and look for the Pocket CO.] Had anyone been sleeping in the basement, they likely would not have made it through the night.
Carbon monoxide kills two
Bodies of grandmother, toddler found day after power turned off
Mary Ella Smith, 61, and Katlyn A. Smith, 15-months, were found dead inside their mobile home Tuesday night.
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts estimates they died sometime Tuesday afternoon. Watts said a gas-powered generator inside the home is the suspected source of the carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide is the by-product of the incomplete combustion of fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood used in boilers, engines, oil burners, gas fires, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires. It is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur when an appliance is incorrectly installed or malfunctioning or the gas is unable to escape a room.
Depending on the level of exposure, symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include nausea, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and headaches, said Assistant Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins.
“Any kind of gasoline-powered equipment, you shouldn’t run in your house because it does give off carbon monoxide,” he said.
SCE&G spokesman Eric Boomhower said the utility left a message Sunday at a phone number Smith provided. Electricity to the home was turned off Monday.
Boomhower said SCE&G cannot divulge details of the account, including how much was owed.
The woman’s daughter Ella Smith told police she, her daughter and mother had slept at the house the night before and had been running the generator in a bedroom to provide electricity.
The generator was running low on fuel. Ella Smith said she left the two at about 8 a.m. to go to work. She forced the back door open with a screwdriver after finding the doors locked about 9 p.m., according to a Columbia police report.
She discovered her mother sitting in a recliner and her daughter lying on a couch, the report said.
The home did not have a carbon monoxide detector, Jenkins said.
“This is obviously an extremely unfortunate situation, and our sympathies go out to the family of the victims,” Boomhower said.
[This is a very sad event obviously. Should they have had a carbon monoxide detector, they could have been able to get out of the house and get some fresh air. However prevention is the best measure in this case...never, ever, run a generator, use a barbecue grill, or cause any type of combustion in an enclosed space.]
Mary Ella Smith, 61, and Katlyn A. Smith, 15-months, were found dead inside their mobile home Tuesday night.
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts estimates they died sometime Tuesday afternoon. Watts said a gas-powered generator inside the home is the suspected source of the carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide is the by-product of the incomplete combustion of fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood used in boilers, engines, oil burners, gas fires, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires. It is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur when an appliance is incorrectly installed or malfunctioning or the gas is unable to escape a room.
Depending on the level of exposure, symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include nausea, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and headaches, said Assistant Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins.
“Any kind of gasoline-powered equipment, you shouldn’t run in your house because it does give off carbon monoxide,” he said.
SCE&G spokesman Eric Boomhower said the utility left a message Sunday at a phone number Smith provided. Electricity to the home was turned off Monday.
Boomhower said SCE&G cannot divulge details of the account, including how much was owed.
The woman’s daughter Ella Smith told police she, her daughter and mother had slept at the house the night before and had been running the generator in a bedroom to provide electricity.
The generator was running low on fuel. Ella Smith said she left the two at about 8 a.m. to go to work. She forced the back door open with a screwdriver after finding the doors locked about 9 p.m., according to a Columbia police report.
She discovered her mother sitting in a recliner and her daughter lying on a couch, the report said.
The home did not have a carbon monoxide detector, Jenkins said.
“This is obviously an extremely unfortunate situation, and our sympathies go out to the family of the victims,” Boomhower said.
[This is a very sad event obviously. Should they have had a carbon monoxide detector, they could have been able to get out of the house and get some fresh air. However prevention is the best measure in this case...never, ever, run a generator, use a barbecue grill, or cause any type of combustion in an enclosed space.]
County officials urge CO safety
Harford County Division of Emergency Operations urges residents to take precautions to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
A carbon monoxide detector with a low-level indicator monitors CO levels in a home. [www.transducertech.com] Appliances that burn fossil fuels pose a risk of CO release.
At low levels of exposure, victims might experience mild nausea and headache. Moderate levels will aggravate symptoms, and victims might feel light-headed and have other flu-like symptoms. High levels of exposure can cause neurological damage and death.
Residents should have chimneys cleaned and heating appliances checked.
Emergency planners also encourage residents to be prepared for emergencies by having sufficient supplies on hand, and a plan in case members are separated.
A carbon monoxide detector with a low-level indicator monitors CO levels in a home. [www.transducertech.com] Appliances that burn fossil fuels pose a risk of CO release.
At low levels of exposure, victims might experience mild nausea and headache. Moderate levels will aggravate symptoms, and victims might feel light-headed and have other flu-like symptoms. High levels of exposure can cause neurological damage and death.
Residents should have chimneys cleaned and heating appliances checked.
Emergency planners also encourage residents to be prepared for emergencies by having sufficient supplies on hand, and a plan in case members are separated.
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