Risk of carbon monoxide release during the storage of wood pellets

Fatalities caused by the release of carbon monoxide from wood pellets have previously been reported² in Europe following personnel entering ships cargo holds (four) or storage silos (two).

Since 2010 there have also been three deaths caused by entry into wood pellet storage facilities in domestic sites³. Two were associated with a work activity and the other was a householder. In each case, the entry had been to resolve a technical problem. Details:

• In January 2010, a 43-year-old engineer died in Germany after he opened a pellet bunker door. A second worker who was standing right behind him was also affected but still able to call the emergency services. The pellet bunker had a storage capacity of approximately 155 tonnes of pellets, supplying about 700 households.
• In November 2010 a 38-year-old male householder in Ireland died after entering the 7 tonne wood pellet storage room for his boiler. His wife and another man were treated in hospital after trying to pull him to safety.
• In February 2011, the 28-year-old pregnant wife of a caretaker, acting on his behalf, died in Switzerland after entering an 82m3 pellet storeroom that supplied 60 households.