Recurring concern

Unsafe use of fuel-burning equipment in enclosed spaces

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First reported 29 Jul 2025•Latest report 31 Mar 2026

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures or hazards involving the use of gas-fuelled, LPG or comparable combustion equipment in tents, rooms or other enclosed spaces where ventilation, space, operating restrictions, warnings or related controls are inadequate to prevent dangerous combustion-gas exposure.

Not included

Excludes general gas-cylinder purchase, licensing, storage or supply controls where unsafe use of fuel-burning equipment in an enclosed space is not identified.
Excludes fixed gas-installation, pipeline, transformer and other infrastructure hazards unrelated to fuel-burning equipment used in an enclosed space.
Excludes generic equipment-selection, training or work-method deficiencies unless they directly concern safe use of fuel-burning equipment in an enclosed space.
Excludes carbon-monoxide risks from non-combustion sources or from equipment operated outdoors where enclosed-space fuel-burning use is not the unsafe condition.

Reports: 2
Individual concerns: 2
Date range: 2025–2026
Stated actions: 6

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

Office for Product Safety and Standards1

The Scout Association1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

31 Mar2026
Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen
Concerns raised1
1. Unsafe use of gas-fuelled equipment in tents by adult leaders
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 6
1. Action
  Maintain explicit carbon monoxide checks within safe premises audits and related safety controls.
  Stated by The Scout AssociationStated completed
2. Action
  Strengthen point-of-use safety information through equipment-check guidance, warning requirements and replacement carbon monoxide labels and resources.
  Stated by The Scout AssociationStated planned
3. Action
  Issue a safety alert and learning notice requiring local leaders to reaffirm carbon monoxide knowledge, confirm safe practice and review displayed safety information.
  Stated by The Scout AssociationStated planned
1. Action
  Promote the safe premises audit tool, Nights Away permit review and carbon monoxide stove-safety guidance through the annual communications plan.
  Stated by The Scout AssociationStated planned
2. Action
  Update partnered carbon monoxide learning content to address dangers in tents.
  Stated by The Scout AssociationStated planned
3. Action
  Continue strengthening targeted support and interventions so leaders understand and act on carbon monoxide risks.
  Stated by The Scout AssociationStated in progress
AI-generated summary

Jack Saunders · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Jack Saunders was found deceased in his tent at Waddecar Scout Camp on 3 April 2017, after arriving alone on 29 March 2017. The cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning from a Landman outdoor heater that generated high levels of carbon monoxide inside the tent. The principal concerns were the absence of available equipment instructions, inadequate delivery of carbon monoxide safety training to local trainers, and Jack’s exposure to adult leaders using fuel-burning equipment in tents.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Unsafe use of gas-fuelled equipment in tents by adult leaders
Wider context from the report
“(3) That Jack, even if informed of the risks, had observed other adult leaders using gas fuelled equipment in tents, particularly mess tents, on previous camps, and due to his visual learning style, would have placed greater reliance on the same. ”
Source location
Jack Saunders · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Maintain explicit carbon monoxide checks within safe premises audits and related safety controls.

Verbatim wording from the response
“TSA’s CO safety management approach has changed as direct result of this incident. The initial learnings were enacted by June 2018 and further improvements have continued since then to support volunteers in using gas stoves and appliances safely while camping, highlighting CO risks. Our safe premises audit includes explicit checks on CO awareness, detection and monitoring. In 2021, TSA formed a partnership with Gas Distribution Networks (GDN), to learn from external advice and expertise to help us promote CO awareness with our membership.”

Source location
Response from the Scouts Association
Page 3 · response
Published 8 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Strengthen point-of-use safety information through equipment-check guidance, warning requirements and replacement carbon monoxide labels and resources.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Strengthening the visibility of safety information and instructions at the point of use by October 2026. This includes:”

Source location
Response from the Scouts Association
Page 5 · response
Published 8 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Issue a safety alert and learning notice requiring local leaders to reaffirm carbon monoxide knowledge, confirm safe practice and review displayed safety information.

Verbatim wording from the response
“We will keep improving by Issuing a specific safety alert and learning notice by 26 June 2026 to bring this PFD and TSA’s response to the attention of all volunteers. The notice will require lead volunteers and board members of our more than 7000 Scout charities across Groups, Districts and Counties to:”

Source location
Response from the Scouts Association
Page 8 · response
Published 8 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Promote the safe premises audit tool, Nights Away permit review and carbon monoxide stove-safety guidance through the annual communications plan.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Promoting to volunteers our safe premises audit tool, Nights Away permit review and CO safety as part of our annual communications plan to address how stoves should be used.”

Source location
Response from the Scouts Association
Page 8 · response
Published 8 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Update partnered carbon monoxide learning content to address dangers in tents.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Provide a new CO safety awareness activity with the GDN partnership for Scouts aged 14–25-years-old and update the GDN-partnered learning content to include more on the danger in tents.”

Source location
Response from the Scouts Association
Page 9 · response
Published 8 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Continue strengthening targeted support and interventions so leaders understand and act on carbon monoxide risks.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Continuing to strengthen how we target support and interventions, so that the CO risk is understood by leaders and acted upon.”

Source location
Response from the Scouts Association
Page 10 · response
Published 8 April 2026
Open published response
29 Jul2025
Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton
Concerns raised1
1. Operation of flue-less liquified petroleum gas cabinet heaters in rooms too small to prevent carbon monoxide build-up
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
AI-generated summary

Thomas Oliver HILL · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Thomas Oliver HILL died on 28 October 2015 after inhaling a fatal quantity of carbon monoxide from a flue-less liquefied petroleum gas cabinet heater while preparing for a bath. The report identified concerns about the heater being used in an undersized room, the absence of a visible external warning label, and it not being obvious to all users that adequate room dimensions were required for safe use.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Operation of flue-less liquified petroleum gas cabinet heaters in rooms too small to prevent carbon monoxide build-up
Wider context from the report
“The flue-less liquified petroleum gas cabinet heater was operated in a room which was too small dimension so to safely use the heater without causing a build-up of carbon monoxide. A warning label was affixed inside the cabinet heater in the space occupied by the liquified petroleum gas bottle. There was an absence of a visible warning label on the outside of the heater. It was not obvious to all potential users of the heater that the heater could only be used safely in a room of sufficient dimension. The risk applies particularly so in the case of rented cottages and similar premises such as ████████ ”
Source location
Thomas Oliver HILL · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 1 · concerns
Open source report