Carbon Monoxide Safety On Boats
Every year boaters are exposed to the risk of seriously illness or even death from carbon monoxide poisoning. Boats are made to keep water out therefore making it more difficult to eradicate gases and fumes.
What are the risks?
When carbon based appliances and engine fuels don’t burn completely, CO is produced. CO build up in a boat can occur from any of these factors.
Faulty or poorly maintained or misused appliances.
Exhaust fumes from an engine or generator.
Escaped flue gases from stoves.
Blocked ventilation or a short supply of air. Fuels require oxygen to burn safely.
How does the silent killer work?
CO is highly poisonous and weighs about the same as air and at high concentrations it can be fatal without warning.
It cannot be seen or tasted and it has no odour, hence the phrase “silent killer”.
When a person breathes in CO, it replaces the oxygen in the bloodstream and prevents essential supply to the body tissues, heart, brain, and other vital organs.
In the event a victim survives CO poisoning, they can be left life long brain damage, poor concentration and mood swings.
People can succumb more quickly than others. Pregnant women, unborn babies, babies and infants, older people, people with respiratory issues and those with heart conditions are particularly susceptible.
People may be at a greater risk of poisoning if they have been active and breathing more rapidly as they require more oxygen. People who have been drinking quite heavily are at risk too as any symptons may be masked and not apparent to them. Being asleep carries obvious risks so prevention is essential.
Common symptons to be aware of are:
Headache
Bad temper or mood
Feeling sick or dizzy
Stomach pains
Sickness
Drowsiness, lethargy, extreme tiredness
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling weak and having diffulty walking or moving
Loss of balance
Sight issues
Memory problems
Chest pains
Increased heart rate
Seizures
Collapse
If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning or your CO alarm activates you need to respond immediately.
Evacuate all onboard to fresh air immediately and stay there.
Seek medical assistance without delay.
If possible go to hospital or contact the emergency services including the fire service.
Be aware of the danger signs.
Ensure all appliances are functioning normally.
Look out for staining or sooty deposits and discolouration on surfaces and walls.
Be suspicious of appliances that have become difficult to light, burn weakly or go out.
Burners that appear to have yellow, orange or weak flames that look as though they will go out.
Unfamiliar or burning smells.
Sensing smoke or seeing smoke in your boat from a log burner or multi fuel stove.
Flue gases from stoves can have up to 100 times the concentrations of CO found in gas burners with problems.
Smelling engine exhaust fumes inside your boat.
How do you prevent CO on your boat?
Only install alliances that meet the required standards and leglislation.
Have all appliances professionally installed by reputable fitters and engineers.
Have all appliances serviced professionally annually.
Ensure any repairs are carried out by reputable service engineers using the correct components.
Cutting corners increases the risk.
Ensure the boat has sufficient ventilation.
Use the correct fuel in the correct way.
Burning damp fuel or plastic can cause blockage of the flue.
Make sure you take any hot ashes out of the vessel and do not leave them in the boat.
Engine exhaust gases can penetrate in to your boat.
Petrol generators and motors can produce dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide and you should also be aware that diesel engine exhaust fumes have also been linked to illness and deaths.
Check the boat’s exhaust system as a matter of course, inspecting parts for leaks or problems. Parts to inspect include manifolds, pipes, joints, hoses, clamps, silencers, and through hull fittings.
Never install a portable generator inside any internal space.
Recommended conversion kits must be used if adapting a portable generator to fixed use.
Insufficient petrol engine performance, running the engine cooler lower than its design temperature or using contaminated or stale fuel can increase the concentration of C0 in exhaust fumes.
If the boat is moored or moving, in certain conditions CO can be deflected or drawn inside from an engine exhaust.
Here are some “dont’s”
Never block ventilators.
Never leave LPG appliances on overnight unless they are designed to do so.
Never use mobile gas (cabinet) heaters as they are not suitable for boats and also create an added fire risk.
Never bring inside or in a covered cockpit area lit or cooling barbecues. Hot charcoal gives off dangerous levels of CO. This has resulted in many deaths.
Never block an appliance’s air inlet or heat outlet.
Never run a solid fuel stove with its doors left open.
Never use an appliance that you regard or suspect as being faulty or unsafe.
Never use an appliance that has a crushed flue terminal.
Never run portable generators in a cabin or covered cockpit area or close to any door opening or ventilator that opens in to the boat.
Never run a boat’s petrol engine with the exhaust outlet restricted. This also applies when a craft is moored against a high sided object such as a wall, another boat or in a lock.
Never swim near boats with their engines running.Many boats exhausts are at a low level and can create a poisonous atmosphere at water level.
CO Alarm
If your vessel has any appliances or an engine or generator that burns fuel then fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm as it is good practice to cover all eventualities. Fitting a carbon monoxide alarm is certainly not a substitute or excuse to not maintain appliances or for professional installation.
“Black spot” colour changing indicator cards are not adequate. There will not be an instant warning of dangerous CO levels with these and obviously no audible alarm. Place your alarms in all cabins and follow the manufacturers installation instructions and test them weekly.Never fit an alarm directly above a heat source. CO alarms do not last forever and will need to be replaced.Alarms do have a replacement date marked on them so be aware of this.
Also, fit alarms that meet the international standards. There are also alarms and warning devices on the market for people with hearing loss.
Always reinstall CO alarms after winterisation. They should be removed if your boat is being laid up for winter. They should also be tested again when fitted after winter.
Remember that CO alarms only detect so be vigilant with regards to preventing build up of carbon monoxide.
Remember that persons with specific medical conditions may not be fully safeguarded by a CO alarm.
Remember to install appliances correctly.
Remember to maintain appliances, generators and engine as a matter of course.
Remember to use equipment properly.
Remember to ensure engine fumes do not penetrate in to the boat.
Remember to deal with issues immediately.
Remember to never bring a lit or cooling barbecue inside or in to any covered area.
Remember to have all repairs dealt with professionally.
Remember to test your CO alarms regularly and never remove the batteries.
Remember the signs of CO poisoning and how to respond.
Remember that a CO alarm will not detect fires, smoke, LPG fuel vapours or petrol leakages.
Remember a CO alarm can activate if it senses hydrogen from for example, a boat’s batteries gassing off when under charge.
Above all, remember to follow best practice and enjoy your boating pastime.