Call goes out for compulsory use of carbon monoxide alarms on boats

The mother of a sailor killed after a gas burner was left alight on his boat has urged authorities to make carbon monoxide alarms mandatory in the wake of the incident.

Nicholas Banfield died from carbon monoxide poisoning in 2016 after an LPG gas burner was lit to warm his boat moored off Balmoral Beach, Sydney. A lack of ventilation on board his wooden yacht, Aquarius, trapped the colourless, tasteless and odorless gas, which built up to high enough a concentration to kill him. Another person on board the yacht survived.

"The thing that we didn't understand and that Nicholas didn't understand, and having spoken to other yachties, was the speed with which carbon monoxide can actually lead to disorientation to start with, the incapacity to think things through and then to unconsciousness and then, unfortunately for us, to death," Nick’s mother, Leanne Banfield, told ABC’s 7.30.

"I just think something [introducing compulsory monitoring of carbon monoxide levels in confined spaces] needs to happen faster," Leanne said.

"We seem to have had lots of these recommendations being made from the different states. I think something needs to happen."

Handing down her findings into Banfield’s death late last year, NSW Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame urged authorities to consider making carbon monoxide alarms compulsory on all recreational and leisure craft and vehicles with sealable cabins, including sailing and motor vessels, caravans and motorhomes, and fitted with fuel-burning appliances.

The coroner’s report noted that a carbon monoxide alarm fitted as part of a reenactment of the incident aboard the Aquarius sounded within four minutes of the LPG burner being switched on.

“It became clear during the course of the inquest that the potential danger of carbon monoxide poisoning is somewhat unknown or under-estimated in the recreational boating field,” the report said. “There is no requirement for carbon monoxide alarms in cabins and clear warning stickers attached to appliances are not mandatory.”

The report said 15 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning from fuel-burning appliances in confined spaces with inadequate ventilation had been reported in Australia in the five years to 2016.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, tasteless and odourless gas produced when carbon-based fuels such as diesel, petrol, propane, charcoal, or oil, burns.

For boats, carbon monoxide poisoning can even occur from an idling motor: Maritime Safety Queensland has this handy guide to the unexpected risks of carbon monoxide poisoning on boats.

Long periods of exposure to low concentrations, or short periods of exposure to high concentrations can result in death or serious injury – in high concentrations it can be fatal in a matter of minutes.

There are telltale signs you should be aware of.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

Signs that your burner may be generating carbon monoxide include:

There are long-term effects from carbon monoxide poisoning, too:

Carbon monoxide alarms cost around $60 and can last for up to 10 years before needing replacement batteries. In light of that, they're cheap insurance.