The State’s energy safety regulator, the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s (DMIRS) Building and Energy has launched a campaign to encourage the safe use of portable outdoor gas appliances such as barbecues, cookers, heaters and fridges.
Unveiling the Great Outdoors, Lethal Indoors campaign, the Director of Energy Safety at Building and Energy, Saj Abdoolakhan said the appliances should be labelled ‘outdoor use only’, which meant they should be used only in the open air.
“They should never be used inside tents, caravans, campervans or other enclosed areas, even if the doors or windows are open,” Mr Abdoolakhan said.
“The same advice applies when using gas patio heaters or barbecues at your home — keep them in the open air,” he said.
Mr Abdoolakhan said gas equipment was safe to use if it was in good condition, operated correctly and in a proper location.
“However, as our campaign says, the consequences can be lethal if carbon monoxide builds up in an area without enough ventilation,” Mr Abdoolakhan said.
“Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas known as the ‘invisible killer’ because it is colourless, odourless and tasteless,” he said.
“It can be produced when liquid petroleum gas does not burn properly due to a faulty appliance or lack of air in an enclosed space.”
The Director said accidental exposure to carbon monoxide from gas appliances had been linked to at least five deaths in Australia in the past decade.
“The Great Outdoors, Lethal Indoors message will be seen and heard during the summer and through to mid-April on social media, television, radio, billboards and displays in Perth and key regional locations,” Mr Abdoolakhan said.
