HSE issues carbon monoxide warning
January 28th 17:23 Health and Safety
UK Landlords and other small business owners involved with providing student accommodation could be among those to benefit from new advice concerning carbon monoxide (CO).
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has called for "life-saving" CO alarms to be fitted in student accommodation.
According to the HSE, 234 major injuries were caused by CO poising last year and the gas takes between 15 and 20 lives each year.
HSE Inspector, Helena Allum, said: "Carbon monoxide is a silent, odourless but deadly killer and the simple processing of fitting an audible alarm could save lives.
"If you are living in rented accommodation your landlord has a duty to have any gas appliance that they own regularly serviced by a Gas Safe Register engineer and issue you with a copy of the gas safety certificate following the annual safety check."
The expert explained that people should be aware of "headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness" as these are the most common symptoms when exposed to CO.
