Tools Linked to 834 CO Deaths in 2008-2018, Reports CPSC

CPSC knows of at least 834 deaths in 2008-2018 involving carbon monoxide (CO) and engine driven tools, according to a report made available September 17. The numbers included 52 deaths in 2018 although CPSC said more recent years' data could change due to reporting lags. Some highlights of the report (bit.ly/2m0Kzfy), dated July, included:

• The 834 deaths in 2008-2018 occurred in 645 incidents. The 52 in 2018 involved 36 incidents.

 

• Consistent with past versions of this report, generators account for a large majority of the deaths: For 2008-2018, 699 deaths (520 indents) involved only generators, while 44 deaths (36 incidents) involved generator plus other items that also produce carbon monoxide.

 

• CO alarms were known to be present in only 36 deaths in 2008-2019, and they were inoperable in 17.