;
Energy type: 
LPG
 
Event summary: 
NZ Police advised WorkSafe Energy Safety of a death they had investigated that appears to have been due to carbon monoxide poisoning from an LPG refrigerator set up in a shipping container used as a home. WorkSafe Energy Safety reviewed the Police conclusion, and examined and tested the refrigerator to confirm this theory.
 
Accident ID: 
171115-01
 
Accident date: 
12 April 2016
 
Site: 
Domestic
 
Environment: 
Building
 
Voltage: 
N/A
 
Equipment: 
Refrigerator
 
Accident type: 
Carbon monoxide poisoning
 
Casualty: 
Fatality
 
Injury: 
Asphyxiation
 
Property damage level: 
No property damage
 
Outcome of investigation: 

The likely cause of death was accidental carbon monoxide poisoning due to operation of the refrigerator in a poorly ventilated space. The police attending the accident scene noted all the doors and windows were closed. A medical examination into the death showed a high carbon monoxide blood saturation level.

WorkSafe Energy Safety undertook subsequent examination and testing of the refrigerator which confirmed the injector was partially blocked and therefore the likely source of carbon monoxide.