Defective Kerosene Heaters Attorneys

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 19 percent of the 150 non-fire, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning deaths in 2003 and 2004 related to heating systems were attributable to incidents involving kerosene, wood, coal or oil heating or a heating system where the fuel type was not specified. And, according to the National Fuel Funds Network (NFFN), a 501(c)(3) non profit organization "promoting and advocating for home energy assistance resources," “portable kerosene heaters have the highest fire death rate relative to the number of households that use them.”

In fact, because of the potential hazards of using kerosene heaters, many jurisdictions outlaw or restrict their use. New Jersey, for instance, only allow kerosene heaters to be used in one and two family homes. In West Milford, New Jersey, kerosene heaters are outlawed outright.

Following are some of the potential hazards kerosene heaters present:

* Fire - common causes are operating the heater too close to draperies, furniture, or other combustibles, filling the tank while the heater is lit or still hot, and accidentally knocking over a lit heater.
* Burns - can result through direct contact with the heater or if clothes catch on fire. Children and pets should be kept at a safe distance from an operating heater.
* Explosion - use of fuel other than water-clear 1 K grade kerosene or operating the heater in the presence of combustible fumes can result in an explosion.
* Indoor air pollution - if the heater's production of CO accumulates, this invisible, odorless gas can cause death without warning. Its production of other gases such as carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur dioxides can be particularly harmful to those with cardiovascular disease, pregnant women, asthmatics, children, and the elderly.
* Asphyxiation - as the heater operates in a small room or inadequately ventilated area, its consumption of oxygen can reduce it to dangerously low levels.