Gas Can Be Deadly !

In 2016 there was a ghastly accident in a New South Wales hospital when a newborn baby died and  another suffered severe brain damage when there was confusion in the piping of medical gases and the children received nitrous oxide instead of oxygen.

The aftermath is only now becoming apparent.   In September , Safe Work NSW dropped the charges against the hospital after it entered an enforceable undertaking to improve its contracting and safety systems at a cost of $536,600.   What is amazing is that work on the installation of medical gas systems is still unregulated.  The people who carry out this exacting work are not required to have any formal training or to be the holder of a proficiency certificate.

That decision is surprising as the Coroner has not completed the  enquiry into  this death and a directive hearing is scheduled to be held on November 19.   It has so far failed to address the core issue which is that individuals in NSW are not required to have either adequate training or a license in mechanical services or medical gas.   That requirement was recently imposed in Queensland.

Medical gases are an important service provision in all hospitals and the Plumbing Trade Union has called for people installing medical gas to be qualified to at least Certificate 111 level and undertake additional training in installing medical gases.

In 2016 the state's chief health officer reported that this accident was a case of mislabelling.  The line carrying nitrous oxide was incorrectly labelled as oxygen.  A simple but deadly mistake that took the life of a child.

Another gas danger that goes unrecognised is the use of unflued gas heaters so common in Sydney homes during the winter months.  It is essential that such a room have a source of fresh air to combat the buildup of toxic carbon monoxide which is safely carried away up the chimney when a heating source is connected to a flue.

There is a danger that if an unflued gas heater is used in a small room with the door and windows tightly shut that the buildup of carbon monoxide may result in the death of the occupant.  In recent years there have been tragedies when unsuspecting people have brought gas BBQ's indoors in a desperate attempt to keep warm, not realising that this sort of equipment is specifically manufactured for outdoor use.

Unflued gas heaters sold in the shops carry little in the way of warnings and in the public mind they are thought to be safe.  Gas cooking and gas hot water heating are common in this state and the connection of gas to our homes must be carried out by qualified tradespeople.   The essential services people like the fire brigade are very conscious of what damage a gas leak explosion can cause.  Even the hint of a gas leak can cause the entire area to be evacuated.

We need a degree of caution when we use gas indoors for heating, and it is glaringly apparent that the people who install medical gases in hospitals should have adequate trade certification.  That is a requirement that should be required without delay !