VOCs can be in the products of combustion or from other products such as paint, new flooring, furniture etc.
Helpful guide https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d7a2912ed915d522e4164a5/VO__statement_Final_12092019_CS__1_.pdf

We are posting items from APPCOG’s website.

Today we will be drawing attention to the victims of CO, and are sharing videos produced with the generous support of the Katie Haines Memorial Trust of an interview with Katie’s parents on her life and passing from CO poisoning, and a reel of Katie’s life. Please see videos available online via the following links:

‘Losing Katie’ Interview – Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2023 – YouTube

Precious Memories of Katie – Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2023 – YouTube

Videos are also downloadable via the COAW website linked here. When posting please do make use of the subtitled versions for accessibility.

Urgent recall notice for popular kitchen hob over risk of DEATH as hundreds of Irish consumers warned ‘do not use’

https://www.thesun.ie/money/11559170/urgent-recall-popular-kitchen-hob-risk-death-not-use/

28.10.23

Stephanie Trotter, CO-Gas safety Charity & Jonathan Kane with the IGEM 2023 Lions Lair award

by Ellie Curtis | 10 Feb 2023

Jonathan Kane, our CEO, won the IGEM 2023 Lions Lair competition held in London.

The now legendary IGEM ‘Dragon’s Den’ contest requires contestants to present to over 100 IGEM members for 4 minutes then answer questions.

Jonathan was one of 5 contestants and, speaking for CO-Gas Safety charity & KANE, presented why Gas Emergency Service engineers must test homes & appliances for CO.

This was poignant as this year the competition was renamed the Chris Bielby award in memory of IGEM’s former President & Gas Safety advocate, with the award presented by his wife & daughter.

Jonathan explained CO remains a significant problem and CO alarms cannot detect low levels of CO – The current WHO limit is 4ppm over 24 hours while CO alarms are not triggered until at least 30ppm is detected

Low level CO poisoning is dangerous – victims are ill and confused as are doctors & Accident & Emergency because blood tests are usually taken hours after CO has left the blood stream.

Jonathan highlighted the consequences: Disbelief by families, friends, medics and the Police and a nightmare for traumatized victims.

2 University studies showed over 25% of homes tested had CO levels well above WHO limits.

Jonathan explained CO testing was straightforward & quick – under 2 minutes using the BS7967 approved appliance sweep test – and our KANE458s IAQ – https://www.kane.co.uk/products/kane458s-indoor-air-quality – can test 4 rooms simultaneously for CO migration in 30 minutes.

Some Gas Emergency Service engineers now use KANE458s IAQ analysers to identify & eliminate CO in homes of vulnerable people, funded by OFGEM.

Jonathan asked this now include all Gas Emergency Service engineers since CO affects anyone, not only vulnerable customers, and asked industry to fund a CO victim support group run on similar lines to ASA, the Advertising Standards Agency.

After hearing all 5 presentations, the IGEM judges decided Jonathan was the winner.

Photo following
Stephanie Trotter, CO-Gas safety Charity & Jonathan Kane with the IGEM 2023 Lions Lair award

Jonathan thanks IGEM for organising the contest, Chris Bielby’s wife & daughter for presenting the prize and the CO-Gas Safety charity for representing victims so professionally for over 28 years, highlighting simple solutions to end these unnecessary tragedies.

For info on KANE & our KANE458s IAQ, visit www.kane.co.uk or https://www.kane.co.uk/products/kane458s-indoor-air-quality or call 0800 059 0800

For info on CO-Gas Safety, visit https://www.co-gassafety.co.uk

If you or people you know are affected by CO, call the Gas Emergency Service – For info, see here: https://www.co-gassafety.co.uk/emergency/

Latest News

• KANE & CO-Gas Safety – IGEM 2023 Lion’s Lair winners

Today, we launch our Fuel Crisis report 2023. This is the third consecutive year we have published the report, the findings are based on a survey of 1,374 people across Great Britain, all of whom had accessed Fuel Bank services in the past year.

Unsurprisingly, given the ongoing challenges faced by the UK, due to the cost-of-living crisis and higher energy prices, the results paint a stark picture of the harsh reality of life for the millions of people who are in fuel poverty. For our client group, this means not having the funds to top up their energy meter or oil tank, and therefore living today or face living tomorrow without heat, light or hot water.

Please find below a link to download the media pack containing: (The link will be live for 7 days from today)

– Copy of report

– Press release

– Briefing sheet

– Social content and supporting imagery

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/2c864b4bc5c09f972973b85aff469c9d20230203081744/c8db25c4110f20b3e174bc629194bd3d20230203081809/b83f35

The report can also be accessed on our website:

Fuel-Bank-Fuel-Crisis-Report-2023.pdf (fuelbankfoundation.org)

Annual Report 2022

CO-Gas Safety quick summary – Exposure to diacetyl vapour in food and drink manufacture – controlling this will also control CO. 

This vapour is created when roasting coffee beans, particularly grinding them when the beans are still hot.

Exposure to diacetyl vapour in food and drink manufacture

Health and Safety Executive – Safety alert

Department name: Engagement and Policy Division

Bulletin number: EPD01-2023

Issue date: 01/23

Target audience: Employers, and the self-employed, in food and drink manufacture who use diacetyl. 

Issue

Exposure to vapour from diacetyl, often used as a flavouring and a by-product of coffee roasting, can lead to severe and irreversible lung disease. Even if diacetyl is present at low concentrations within mixtures or flavourings, exposure to its vapour may be above safe workplace exposure limits (WELs).

Outline of the problem

HSE scientific studies show that heating diacetyl above certain temperatures significantly increases airborne concentrations and the potential for exposures above safe workplace limits.

Risk in coffee manufacture

Exposure levels during bean roasting and grinding can exceed WELs. The amount of diacetyl generated naturally during bean grinding is temperature dependent.  Concentrations are significantly greater if the roasted beans are ground when still warm (around 400C) and reduced if the beans are cooled between roasting and grinding down to room temp (around 16-20C).

Risk in flavour manufacture 

Airborne concentrations and the potential for exposures above safe workplace limits is significantly increased if flavour mixtures containing diacetyl, even at low concentrations (below 5%) are heated, added to hot processes or spray dried.

Risk of exposure can occur during

• opening of diacetyl or flavouring containers
• decanting and weighing
• mixing
• spray drying to produce powdered mixtures 
• packaging
• cleaning of vessels or spillages        

Hazardous substance workplace exposure limit (WEL)   

Diacetyl (CAS: 431-03-8), also known as 2,3-butanedione, is a naturally occurring organic compound but is also manufactured synthetically. Diacetyl vapour can be generated as a by-product during the roasting and grinding of coffee beans and may also be present during brewing of some beers. Synthetic diacetyl is classified as a hazardous substance. It is toxic if inhaled, can cause skin irritation and eye damage by contact and harmful if swallowed.

WELs for diacetyl were published in EH40/2005 Workplace Exposure Limits. Limits are at 20 parts per billion (ppb) or 0.02 parts per million (ppm) over an 8-hr time weighted average (TWA) and 100 ppb or 0.10 ppm over a 15-min TWA period. Suppliers’ safety data sheets for diacetyl or for mixtures containing diacetyl should list these WELs.  the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (as amended) require employers to ensure work-related exposure is assessed, prevented or adequately controlled so that it is below the WELs.

Action required

Assess the risk

If your processes include the use of diacetyl, food flavourings that contain diacetyl, or are likely to produce diacetyl, then you must carry-out a risk assessment. Your risk assessment will help you to identify the hazards associated with the potential for exposure, understand who might be harmed and how, evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.

Check the safety data sheet

If diacetyl is not mentioned on a safety data sheet for food flavourings (which are likely to contain it) you should contact the supplier to confirm if it is present or not

Sample

If there is a potential for diacetyl exposure use sampling and analysis to verify whether exposure is likely to be above the WEL.

Substitute

Substitute to a safer alternative product.  Substitutes should not contain compounds similar to diacetyl such as 2,3-pentanedione. 

Control risk of exposure

If substitution is not a viable option (for example if diacetyl is a natural by-product), then strict controls must be implemented:

1. Keep the flavouring at a low temperature (below 4°C) as this will significantly reduce vaporisation
2. Enclose the process and use extraction, to control diacetyl vapour emissions at source
3. For coffee manufacture, cool the coffee beans (to at least below 20ºC) pre-grind.
4. For diacetyl flavouring manufacture and use, add the flavouring at the last stage of production and via an enclosed or automated system
5. Where the above controls do not reduce exposure below the WEL, you should consider providing suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), including suitable respiratory protection equipment (RPE).

Health surveillance

If there is a reasonable likelihood that workers may be harmed by diacetyl you must introduce a health surveillance programme. Your risk assessment will help you decide if this is required. A health surveillance programme should be devised in consultation with an occupational health provider.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide is also known to be a by-product in coffee processing. Control of diacetyl through enclosure and extraction will also help control CO emission. HSE recommends that as part of a risk assessment process, you carry out sampling to establish whether any further controls for CO might be necessary.

Guidance

• EH40/2005 Workplace Exposure Limits
• COSHH assessment: Identifying hazard and assessing risk
• A new method for workplace monitoring of airborne diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione using thermal desorption tubes and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
• Substance substitution
• Control measures to prevent or limit exposure to hazardous substances
• Health surveillance

Relevant legal documents

• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) on www.legislation.gov.uk
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Approved Code of practice and guidance

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Dear friend

Over the last 40 years, INQUEST has stood alongside thousands of families whose loved ones have died at the hands of the state as they demand truth, justice and accountability.

We are facing funding challenges at a time when the demand for our work has never been greater.  As we witness the impact of austerity and erosion of human rights, our work holding the state and authorities accountable when they fail in their duty of care is as important as ever.

Today, we’re launching our fundraising appeal to raise £40,000 so we can continue our vital work. Donate today and show bereaved families that they are not alone in their fight for truth, justice and accountability.

Together we can put an end to state related deaths and the unjust systems which enable them.

DONATE

With gratitude,
Deborah Coles and the whole team at INQUEST

P.S. We know not everyone can help with a donation just now. Can you share our posts on social media to help spread the word? Find our posts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or send the campaign page to a friend.