The Baltimore County Council passed the new ordinance in mid-December, in the wake of a number of carbon monoxide (CO) incidents in the county in recent months, according to an article in The Baltimore Sun. In addition to rental units heated by fuel-burning equipment, such as propane, all landlords with units attached to enclosed garages must also ensure that they have carbon monoxide alarms installed.

In December alone, four people in a Fullerton apartment complex were hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning, and county firefighters found lethal amounts of carbon monoxide gas in a rental home in Middle River. In addition, a string of high-profile carbon monoxide problems have plagued the Cove Village townhouse community since 2005, when three people died from CO poisoning. As recently as July, five people were hospitalized at the community, despite efforts to eradicate the CO problems.

All Maryland carbon monoxide laws require all public housing units built since 2008 to have carbon monoxide alarms installed. However, the new rule in Baltimore County expands on those requirements and requires the alarms in older units, where they were not previously required.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas, which makes it particularly dangerous, because people are unable to detect a potential leak without a CO alarm. Exposure to the gas could cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which can result in nausea and lightheadedness. It can also result in severe long-term problems, depriving the brain of oxygen and potentially resulting in brain damage or death.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there has been a nationwide increase in CO poisoning deaths since 1999. The years 2004 through 2006 saw an average of 181 carbon monoxide poisoning deaths per year associated with consumer products, up from 123 deaths per year in the years 1999 through 2001. Heating equipment and portable generators were found to be the largest contributors to CO deaths.

The CPSC released the following recommendations in a public service announcement in late December:

• Schedule a yearly professional inspection of fuel-burning systems in your home, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, chimneys, flues, vents, wood stoves and fire places.
• Install carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Make sure the batteries work, and replace the batteries every year at either the spring or autumn Daylight Savings Time changes.
• Use the test button at least once a month on your CO alarm to make sure it is working.
• Keep portable generators as far away from the home as possible, and make sure they are away from open doors and windows or vents.
• Only use space heaters that have been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory.
• Only use propane space heaters indoors if the heater is specifically designed for indoor use.
• Do not use gas or electric stoves to heat your home.

MARYLAND CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING LAWYERS

The attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuits in Baltimore County and throughout Maryland. If a carbon monoxide leak was caused by the negligence of another person, such as a landlord, property owner, builder, appliance manufacturer, repair company or other entity responsible for maintenance, compensation may be available Request a free consultation with our Maryland carbon monoxide lawyers to review a case.