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We've had an accidental release (no failure, just poorly isolated) with no harm.
Would any of you report under RIDDOR as Dangerous Occurrence. Can't see anything that strongly guides me to do this beyond the catch-all "potential to cause injury".
Grateful for your thoughts.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I have no idea why you would report this under RIDDOR I don't think it meets any of the criteria...
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Not reportable under RIDDOR although certainly should be considered an exceptionally worrying event and subject to a full investigation with follow-up remedial actions. I expect you will have done this.
Does anybody know why potential asphyxiation is not reportable under RIDDOR?
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Rank: Super forum user
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I think RIDDOR has it covered:
'Hazardous escapes of substances
The unintentional release or escape of any substance which could cause personal injury to any person other than through the combustion of flammable liquids or gases'
Incidentally carbon dioxide is not an asphyxiant gas; it's toxic. CDC give the 'immediately dangerous to life and health level' at 4%. The crew of Apollo 13 were almost victims of this.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Jane, found it: Section 27 of Schedule 2, which I initially misread as being applicable ONLY offshore, rather than EXCEPT offshore. My initial thought was correct and I now change my advice to the OP.
It is reportable after all, my apologies.
Also agree that CO2 is toxic. Often misunderstood when people assume that there will be opportunity to escape from a CO2 discharge by simply holding breath. The initial lungfulls do the damage to the breathing mechanism.
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Rank: Super forum user
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and thanks to Jane for correcting my error.
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Rank: Super forum user
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David Bannister wrote:certainly should be considered an exceptionally worrying event and subject to a full investigation with follow-up remedial actions. Absolutely, David. Just gathering statements etc.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Jane Blunt wrote:I think RIDDOR has it covered:
'Hazardous escapes of substances
The unintentional release or escape of any substance which could cause personal injury to any person other than through the combustion of flammable liquids or gases'
Incidentally carbon dioxide is not an asphyxiant gas; it's toxic. CDC give the 'immediately dangerous to life and health level' at 4%. The crew of Apollo 13 were almost victims of this. Cheers, Jane. Report pending. Thanks, all.
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Rank: Forum user
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You are correct Jane, but only at high concentrations.
The asphyxiant, anoxic effects will happen far quicker though.
Phil
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: Super forum user
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HeO2 wrote:You are correct Jane, but only at high concentrations.
The asphyxiant, anoxic effects will happen far quicker though.
Phil I don't agree. If it is simply displacing the air, then by the time 4% of the air has been displaced by carbon dioxide the oxygen concentration has only gone down a very small amount. This is why you need a carbon dioxide monitor, not an oxygen monitor. A standard oxygen monitor is set to go off at approximately 19.5%, which is when about 7% of the air has been displaced by something that does not support life. If that something is carbon dioxide you are in considerable danger. You are also well above the statutory exposure limit for carbon dioxide. Another point to bear in mind is the accuracy of the average oxygen monitor. Most work on an electrochemical cell, and the calibration for these is not linear between 20.9% and zero. This means that, depending on the asphyxiant gas, your meter may be reading more, or less than it should. See this article: https://www.jlab.org/acc...s/papers/heliumsense.pdfLuckily it would appear that carbon dioxide makes these meters read low.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I'm seeing this in a different light to report see below
Pressure systems
2. The failure of any closed vessel or of any associated pipework (other than a pipeline) forming part of a pressure system as defined by regulation 2(1) of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000(1), where that failure could cause the death of any person.
Was the Co2 stored under pressure in a vessel? Was there a failure of the closed vessel (unintentional i.e. no fire)? Could the failure cause death to any person?
Then = Reportable.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, don't you just love RIDDOR.........
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Rank: Super forum user
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Toe wrote:
Please correct me if I'm wrong, don't you just love RIDDOR.........
OP "just poorly isolated" That's not a failure of the vessel or pipework. Regards
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Rank: Super forum user
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westonphil wrote:Toe wrote:
Please correct me if I'm wrong, don't you just love RIDDOR.........
OP "just poorly isolated" That's not a failure of the vessel or pipework. Regards Agreed on that point, Phil. It's the accidental release that clinches it here.
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