Posted September 20, 2024
ABSTRACT
Hampson NB. Mass Carbon Monoxide Poisoning on a Train in Italy, March 1944. History
Reconstructed. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2024 Third Quarter; 51(3):247-251.
World War II was approaching its end in Italy in 1944 when one of the worst train disasters in world
history occurred near the small town of Balvano in the Apennine Mountains. The train did not derail or
crash into something as in most major train disasters. Instead, it entered a mountainous railway tunnel,
and when it emerged, over 500 passengers were dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. The event was
not allowed to be publicized for almost two decades. This manuscript reconstructs the story of possibly
the most significant incident of carbon monoxide mortality ever recorded.
2024_italy_train_disaster.pdf (neilhampson.com)
“The worker was inside the space for 40 minutes while the alarm from the testing equipment was sounding,” one report notes. “There was no action taken to pull the worker out of the space where there was carbon monoxide buildup.”
Seaspan fined $710K for worker’s carbon monoxide poisoning | CTV News
“The guide also features the standards placed upon social and private landlords that differ across the UK’s nations. This includes the level of responsibility placed upon landlords for the repair and replacement of CO detectors, in addition to the need to provide detectors and information regarding use and testing to their tenants.”
New guide on differing carbon monoxide detector requirements across the UK is published – FMJ
“What’s stopping pilots from fitting a Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector in their aircraft? The CAA wants to know.”
Canada –
Following a guilty plea, the employer must also pay a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act, to be credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
A worker was fatally injured due to carbon monoxide exposure following a fire in an oil‐lubricated air compressor.
The incident took place on May 2, 2022, when a worker was sandblasting a metal turret in the abrasive blast room of the Company’s Breen Drive facility.
At the time the worker was wearing a NOVA 2000 respirator/helmet, gloves and coveralls. The respirator was supplied air from an oil‐lubricated compressor located in a storage container at the back of the building.
Workers noticed that the sound of sandblasting stopped and then discovered the oil‐lubricated compressor was on fire. Several workers then went to get fire extinguishers to put the fire out.
One worker entered the abrasive blast room to retrieve a water hose to try to extinguish the fire. That worker found in there another worker who had been performing the sandblasting. The second worker was unresponsive on the ground with a respirator/helmet still on but disconnected from the air supply line.
Emergency Medical Services attended the scene and pronounced the worker dead.
An investigation by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development found that the immediate cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to their findings, at the time of the incident, the oil‐lubricated compressed air line did not have an in‐line continuous carbon monoxide monitor with audible and visual alarms that activate at 5 parts per million.
Also, the RPB Nova 2000 respirator/helmet that the worker was wearing does not purify air or filter contaminants, and that a carbon monoxide monitor must be used.
“The Company therefore failed to ensure the compressed breathing air system was equipped with a continuous carbon monoxide monitor and properly calibrated, and so endangered the life of the worker,” said the Ontario government.
Ontario firm fined $120,000 for worker fatality after fire | Canadian Occupational Safety (thesafetymag.com)
“…the province’s government-owned gas supplier, was called in the following day to investigate after the town became aware of the player’s symptoms.
There were deficiencies detected with two furnaces, so the arena was shut down…”
No mention of installed CO detection or the intent to install any.
Faulty ice-cleaning machine blamed for carbon monoxide poisoning at Sask. hockey tournament
“The furnace was initially suspected to be the problem, but the Saskatchewan Health Authority said it was likely caused by a faulty ice-cleaning machine. It’s unclear whether the rink had a functioning carbon monoxide detector.”
An unusual case of CO poisoning…
The couple died during their stay at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt –
“Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire sitting at Preston Coroner’s Court, ruled that the deaths on August 21, 2018 were caused by the spraying of the pesticide containing dichloromethane, in the adjoining room and the couple then inhaling the vapour resulting in their deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning… in less developed countries the pesticide Lambda is sometimes diluted with another substance, dichloromethane, which causes the body to metabolise or ingest carbon monoxide.”
Daughter whose parents died abroad calls for tour operators to take responsibility over hotel safety
“‘You don’t expect your parents to die in front of you within hours of one another’.
Kelly Ormeod is calling for tour operators to take more responsibility for safety in hotels abroad after her parents died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Egypt.”
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) recently launched a critical project to improve the carbon monoxide (CO) safety of people living on boats in London.
Safer Waters For Houseboat Residents From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – YouTube
The Yomiuri Shimbun
16:31 JST, October 8, 2023
Police have arrested a man and a woman on suspicion of killing the head priest of a temple in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, by burning a large amount of charcoal briquettes in the temple’s ossuary in July, authorities said.
Shinomasa Otani, the head priest of Genshoji temple, died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Ryuta Saito, 50, the president of a stone company in Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture, who lives in the city and Junko Aoki, 63, an executive of the company and resident of Nerima Ward, Tokyo, on Saturday.
Otani is believed to have been involved in a dispute with them over the sale of gravestones for more than a year.
The MPD is investigating what actually took place among the three, it said.
Saito and Aoki are suspected of entering the temple’s ossuary and burning charcoal between 11 p.m. on July 22 and 8:30 a.m. the following day, according to the MPD. Otani, then 70, is believed to have died when he entered the ossuary on the morning of July 23.
The ossuary, located underground, is about 4 meters wide, 4 meters long and 3 meters high.
When Otani went down a ladder from the ground to the ossuary to arrange the remains kept by the temple, he noticed the charcoal. He lost consciousness while trying to carry it out, according to the MPD.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital where he had been taken.
His wife, in her 60s, who was nearby, and two family members who went into the ossuary to help him, also complained of temporary health problems and were taken to the hospital.
2 Arrested over Death of Head Priest at Temple in Tokyo – The Japan News (yomiuri.co.jp)
“As of this morning a total of 56 patients attended ULHT sites with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning in relation to this incident. One patient remains in hospital.”
Carbon monoxide poisoning cases linked to Gridline Racing go-kart track rise to 56 | ITV News Calendar
“While the message about carbon monoxide awareness has often targeted the public, workplaces such as campgrounds, tour operators, and festival event organizers hold a crucial role in safeguarding individuals against the dangers of this silent killer.”
Why employers need to promote carbon monoxide awareness | Canadian Occupational Safety (thesafetymag.com)
Canada –
Source was a gas-powered pump being used inside the house
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) received an emergency call just after 8 p.m. on Wednesday, prompting their immediate response to the construction site. Upon entering the premises, paramedics’ carbon monoxide detectors sounded the alarm, indicating dangerous levels of 2,000 parts per million of the toxic gas inside the house.
Inside the home, the paramedics discovered an unresponsive worker who was being assisted by two bystanders providing medical care. Tragically, the worker could not be saved. Two of the responding paramedics and one of the bystanders were also affected by the toxic gas and required medical treatment.
In a press release, city officials revealed the cause of the carbon monoxide build-up was a gas-powered pump that was operational inside the house.
A spokesperson for the province tells CTV News Winnipeg “a stop-work order has been issued on the gas-powered equipment and WSH is continuing to follow up.”
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, making it extremely difficult to detect without specialized equipment like carbon monoxide detectors. It is often referred to as the “silent killer” because exposure to high levels of this gas can lead to serious health issues and even fatalities. Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, vision and hearing impairment, and shortness of breath.
The construction company involved in the incident, Artista Homes, was approached for comment by CTV News Winnipeg, but did not receive a response.
In the wake of this tragedy, authorities are urging all residents and businesses to take the necessary precautions to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. It is recommended to install carbon monoxide alarms on every floor of a building, especially in homes and workplaces where gas-powered equipment is utilized.
Worker dies from carbon monoxide poisoning in home under construction | Canadian Occupational Safety (thesafetymag.com)
Hyatt Hotel Rancho Pescadero in El Pescadero in the state of Baja California Sur –
“In a statement Wednesday, the local attorney general’s office said both had died from “intoxication by substance to be determined.” Earlier reports of the deaths suggested more specifically that gas inhalation was suspected.”
Two Americans Found Dead Inside Luxury Mexican Hotel Room (yahoo.com)
“A Hyatt spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about whether rooms at Rancho Pescadero, which start at more than $600 a night, are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors.”
Two Americans found dead in luxury hotel room in Mexico – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
Current and former employees at a luxury hotel in Mexico where two Americans were found dead said managers ignored signs of a possible gas leak and disabled carbon monoxide detectors so alarms would not disturb guests.
Mexican resort where 2 Californians died ignored gas leaks, workers say – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
“’They knew there were problems with a gas leak,’ Ricardo Carbajal, the former night manager of Rancho Pescadero, told The Los Angeles Times.
Mr Carbajal, who stopped working at the luxury hotel in March, said carbon monoxide detectors went off frequently over a period of three months last year before hotel managers disabled the alarms due to noise complaints.”
https://news.yahoo.com/mexico-hotel-where-us-couple-144419764.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHvryhnD21sSU0Dft0i1-71TxlTqmK8fKZbR-GLnlIGDxAxfOkzyvaAtFC5P_LhSQdO0YRkOB1pOxJfGLql-Cv5Qw7zjKFZG9qneAaKwZVdtUGHthw0c16slEOE8e1zzQxVpXugV4l4_czvemhY8foh_5ozyqm9V45dnYfZmJ-K7
“We know that pilots have to consider the significant safety benefits offered by flying with an active [carbon monoxide] detector… It could not only save their life, but also their passengers’ as well.”
UK regulator seeks opinions on active carbon monoxide detectors for general aviation | News | Flight Global
Vacation rental in Spain –
“Initial local reports pointed to the cause being a faulty gas-powered fridge…sources said they were investigating the possibility deadly carbon monoxide gas had been seeping out all night while the couple slept in the main bedroom…”
Sad update on this story…
“Mary Somerville, 39, was found unconscious alongside her husband, Jaime Carsi, 40, in a villa in Majorca on May 6 due to a carbon monoxide leak. The leak is believed to have been caused by a broken fridge in their holiday accommodation.”
Mexico –
“…the carbon monoxide came out of the motel room’s heater.”
It has been confirmed that the three deceased in a Durango motel were poisoned with carbon monoxide – The Durango Post
UK –
“Student Tom Hill, 18, collapsed and died 11 days after the holiday home operator was told about a previous tenant becoming unwell…The inquiry heard that a previous guest at the cottage had reported becoming physically unwell during her stay. The carbon monoxide alarm had also sounded.”
Carbon monoxide alert at Angus holiday cottage before death – BBC News
“Jessica Taschner was in a coma for a week and her boyfriend died after they were poisoned by carbon monoxide (CO) from a propane-run refrigerator while staying at a cabin… She spent summers there with her family, in the cabin her grandparents had built in the 1950s…”
‘Silent killer’: Metro Vancouver woman raises awareness about carbon monoxide poisoning | Vancouver Sun
“In 2021, based on the study, Health Canada issued guidelines for improving air quality in arenas. Using electric resurfacers and edgers to maintain the ice, in order to eliminate the main sources of pollutants, was its top recommendation.”
This EV is wiping out indoor air pollution in arenas across Canada | CBC News
“How do governments measure the incidence and prevalence of diseases for planning and resource allocation? How can researchers collect information on health conditions or their risk factors? The answer is the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)…
ICD-11 helps improve CO poisoning documentation thanks to the additional level of detail that was not previously possible…”
“The findings of this research suggest that exposure to a relatively low amount of CO (raising exhaled CO levels by only 3ppm) was sufficient to cause not only changes in brain activation, but also in cognitive task performance…This does pose the question of how ambient CO pollution may be affecting our neurovascular health…”
The impact of low-level carbon monoxide on cognition and brain activation | CO Research (coresearchtrust.org)
Recent carbon monoxide poisoning deaths of four American tourists at Mexico City vacation homes raises safety questions.
https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/vacationers-tragically-die-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-93105509
https://abc.com/shows/nightline/episode-guide/2022-11/10-thu-nov-10-2022
“When you rent a nice place, you don’t expect not to wake up the next day…”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/peopleandplaces/vacationers-tragically-die-by-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/vi-AA14ek6u
3 Americans found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning at Mexico City Airbnb – ABC News (go.com)
Deadly carbon monoxide poisoning in Mexico City vacation rental (10news.com)
UK –
“A recent survey of 335 heating engineers, conducted by campaign group Project SHOUT, identified an alarming rise in dangerous gas appliances, with over a third (39%) seeing poorly maintained or badly fitted appliances every week, with nearly two-thirds (61%) saying they saw them at least monthly.
If your customer is a landlord, it’s worth reminding them that they have a legal duty to keep the gas appliances that they own or control in a safe condition. In addition, landlords have a duty to undertake an annual gas safety check for gas appliances the they own or control.”
“…we have taken additional measures such as engaging environmental safety experts for a comprehensive review of all systems across the resort…CO detectors have now been placed in all guest rooms at Sandals Emerald Bay and although not mandated in any Caribbean destination where we operate, detectors will be installed in all guest rooms throughout the portfolio…”
It should not take a tragedy to install CO detection in a commercial building serving the public, especially one where people are sleeping.
Sandals Adds Carbon Monoxide Detectors After 3 Guests Die in Bahamas | PEOPLE.com
UK –
“Speakers considered the new ICD-11 coding system – exploring how best it can be used, what steps may be needed to ensure that efficacy, and whether there are further steps that may, in the future, be introduced which would maximise the value of the data collected.”
ICD-11 – A Roundtable discussion on the mortality and morbidity of carbon monoxide poisoning | CO Research (coresearchtrust.org)
Interesting presentation provided by the CO Research Trust (UK) regarding the challenges of diagnosing CO poisoning in emergency departments.
EDCO Study: Understanding the diagnosis of CO exposure in EDs | CO Research (coresearchtrust.org)
Progressive research happening in the the U.K. –
In 2011 a report by the All Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG) identified a key role for coroners to support increased detection of CO poisoning in England and Wales. The report recommended that “The Government should ensure that all coroners’ post-mortems routinely test for carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels”.
“By law, where CO is suspected as a cause of death, cases are referred to the coroner, but routine testing for CO exposure is not required. In April 2019 NHS Improvement announced a national program to introduce a new medical examiner role at all hospital trusts to provide independent scrutiny of all deaths.
Cranfield University – The efficient operation of regulation and legislation:- An holistic approach to understanding the effect of carbon monoxide on mortality | CO Research (coresearchtrust.org)
Abstract
Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless toxic gas produced during incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels. Most CO incidents reported to the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) are due to faulty gas appliances, and legislation exists to ensure gas appliances are properly installed.
Methods: We present three CO poisoning incidents of unusual origin reported to the HPA. In each, residents living above restaurants were poisoned after workers left charcoal smouldering overnight in specialist or traditional ovens whilst ventilation systems were turned off. This led to production of CO, which travelled through floorboards and built up to dangerous concentrations in the flats.
Results: Working with local authorities, these incidents were investigated and resolved, and work was conducted to prevent further occurrences.
Conclusions: The novel nature of these CO incidents led to delays in recognition and subsequent remedial action. Although previously undescribed, it is likely that due to the number of residences built above restaurants and the rising popularity of traditional cooking methods, similar incidents may be occurring and could increase in frequency. Multi-agency response and reporting mechanisms could be strengthened. Awareness raising in professional groups and the public on the importance of correct ventilation of such appliances is vital.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22427702/
“More than a year since nearly dying of carbon monoxide poisoning in a subway tunnel, TTC worker Jason Iamundo is still suffering the effects.
Just ask his wife Sophie.
You can hear the rage rise up in her voice when she talks about the health problems he’s struggled with since the Feb. 7, 2006 accident. Chest pains, breathing problems, an irregular heartbeat, dizziness, numb hands and hips, anxiety and depression are just some of the worries.
Then there’s the memory loss. If he were in his 60s or 70s, one could understand his forgetfulness, but Jason just turned 36 and should still be sharp.”
https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/02/19/ttc_to_accept_rap_for_wakeup_call.html
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