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Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) is first for independent health and safety news.
October 3, 2013

Silent killer’ alarms made compulsory in Scotland

 

 

A new law, which makes carbon monoxide (CO) alarms compulsory in Scottish properties, has been praised by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in Scotland (RoSPA Scotland).
 
From 1 October, new building regulations in Scotland mean that all new-build properties must be fitted with CO alarms. The law also requires houses, hotels, guest houses and care homes to have an alarm installed at the same time as a new boiler or gas appliance.
 
The new regulations aim to prevent deaths from carbon monoxide, dubbed ‘the silent killer’ as it cannot be seen, heard, smelt or tasted.
 
The latest figures from Health Protection Scotland show that approximately two accidental deaths from CO poisoning occur each year in Scotland, and between 2008 and 2010, 135 patients were admitted to hospital as a result of the toxic effects of the carbon monoxide.
 
Scottish planning minister Derek Mackay said: “The Scottish Government recognises the devastating effect carbon monoxide poisoning can have on people’s lives.
 
“Not a year goes by where there isn’t an avoidable death in Scotland from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by faulty heating appliances in buildings. There are also a considerable number of incidents where people are treated in hospital for the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.
 
“That is why the Scottish building regulations will require carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted when a new or replacement boiler or other heating appliance is to be installed in a dwelling and other buildings with bedrooms.”
 
RoSPA Scotland’s community safety development officer Carlene McAvoy, said: “Building companies, property owners, landlords and gas engineers will all play their part in ensuring that these life-saving alarms are fitted into more homes and hotels across Scotland.
 
“At this time of year, many people begin to switch on their heating, so it is important to remember that gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or ventilated could cause CO poisoning.”
 
RoSPA has been working alongside charity, Gas Safe, to send 10,000 families across the UK a free CO detector as part of the ‘Be Gas Safe’ scheme.

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