CARBON DIOXIDE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 1 February 1943, Page 4

CARBON DIOXIDE

GENERATED BY CHEESE DEATH OF ENGINEER. Evidence that carbon dioxide gas is generated by fresh cheese and that a sufficient proportion in the air reduces the oxygen by displacement, making the atmosphere incapable of supporting life, was given at the inquest into the death of Hugh Douglas Jones, aged 41, chief refrigerating engineer on an overseas liner, who died at Wellington on 15th January. The cause of death, as returned by the Coroner, Mr W. G. Mellish, was that death was due to accidental carbon dioxide asphyxia. Jones descended into the deck trunk to inspect it before running the fan. George Tullett, foreman carpenter, said the trunk way was for circulating air among the cargo and was situated in the top recess of the hold, with suitable slides and airholes for circulating air into the hold. The air was driven by a fan at the top of the trunk, and on that particular occasion the fan was not running. It was not possible for a man to work in the trunk when the fan was running, owing to the pressure of air. It seemed evident that Jones had taken the hold temperature from the deck, was not satisfied with it, and decided to alter the air-slides in the trunk in order to adjust the temperature of the holdThe slides could be adjusted either from inside the hold or from inside the trunk. On that occasion they had to be adjusted from inside the trunk. Carbon dioxide gas developed from fresh cheese. The trunk was in the recess with cheese stacked all round it, and the gas evidently passed through the air-slides into the trunk. There would be a very strong smell of cheese in the trunk and Jones would not detect gas. ODOURLESS GAS Dr. P. P. Lynch, who conducted a post-mortem examination, said that carbon dioxide gas was odourless and not, in itself, poisonous, but by sufficient displacement reduced the oxygen to the point where the atmosphere would not support life. The Coroner said the chief officer, who had given evidence before the ship sailed, stated that the danger of carbon dioxide gas being present was recognised and that it was against the usual practice for a man to go down the hold in the circumstances in which Jones descended. It was a very rare occurrence, but it became known to seafaring men through a similar death many years ago. It was quite clear, said thfi Coroner, that Jones, in an excess of zeal, went down into that dangerous place without realising the risk he was taking.