This article provides general information about carbon monoxide (CO) risks associated with fuel-burning portable generators during power outages. It does not provide emergency, medical, or legal advice. For general firm information, visit Williams Hart & Boundas, LLP. Understand more about hurricane power outage generators and carbon monoxide poisoning risks with our mass tort lawyers now. You can also review the firm’s catastrophic injury lawyers for general information about serious injury matters.
Generator Carbon Monoxide Risks
Fuel-burning, engine-driven portable generators produce carbon monoxide through their exhaust. This includes gasoline, diesel, propane, and natural gas models. Battery-powered and other non-combustion power stations do not produce CO during normal operation, although users should follow each product’s instructions.
CO has no odor or color. People may not detect its presence without an alarm. Generator exhaust can enter a building through doors, windows, vents, air intakes, HVAC openings, and other pathways. Wind, structures, and obstructions can affect how exhaust moves. The CDC’s carbon monoxide guidance describes the health risks of inhaling CO.
Never operate a portable generator inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed, porch, carport, or any other enclosed or partly enclosed space. Operate the generator only in an outdoor location that follows the manufacturer’s instructions and current government guidance. CPSC warns against operating portable generators indoors.
Portable Generator Precautions
Review the generator manual before operating the equipment. Also, check current guidance from FEMA’s power outage resource and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Follow these steps:
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement, operation, maintenance, and shutdown.
- Keep the generator outdoors and away from doors, windows, vents, attached garages, and other openings.
- Direct exhaust away from buildings and openings.
- Follow current government guidance about the recommended separation distance. CDC and FEMA advise using portable generators outdoors and more than 20 feet away from windows, doors, and vents.
- Do not assume that any single distance eliminates CO risk.
- Keep the generator dry and follow the manual’s instructions for wet conditions.
- Install and maintain CO alarms according to the alarm manufacturer’s instructions.
- CO alarms do not make indoor generator operation safe.
- Turn off the generator and allow it to cool before adding fuel.
- Refuel outdoors and keep fuel away from flames and ignition sources.
- Store fuel in approved containers and follow applicable fire safety requirements.
- Do not connect a portable generator directly to household wiring. Use a qualified electrician for approved transfer equipment.
- Do not operate equipment that may have suffered flood, impact, or storm damage until the manufacturer or a qualified professional determines whether it can be used.
- Keep children and pets away from operating equipment.
Potential defect or warning issues may involve the firm’s portable generator product liability page. For broader information about the relevant practice area, review the firm’s product liability practice. A page cannot determine whether a particular product or party caused an injury.
Carbon Monoxide Symptoms and Emergency Response
Possible CO-poisoning symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, confusion, unusual sleepiness, and loss of consciousness. Symptoms can resemble other illnesses. Multiple people becoming ill in the same building may indicate a CO problem.
If you suspect CO exposure, move everyone into fresh air immediately. Call 911 or the local emergency number. Do not reenter the area until emergency responders say it is safe. Seek medical evaluation, even if symptoms improve. Do not delay emergency care to inspect the generator or identify the source of the gas.
In the United States, Poison Control can provide general guidance at (713) 230-2200. Poison Control guidance does not replace emergency medical care. The National Poison Control Center also provides general poisoning information.
Evidence After a Generator-Related Incident
After emergency needs have been addressed, preserve potentially relevant information when it is safe to do so. This may include the generator, packaging, manual, receipts, photographs, alarm records, medical records, and messages about the incident. A related defective equipment injury article discusses general evidence issues involving equipment.
For additional context, review information about inspection logs, sensor data, and maintenance records. These resources address evidence considerations in industrial contexts and do not determine responsibility for a household generator incident.
Do not operate, move, alter, or discard equipment that may present a danger. Do not reenter a contaminated area to collect evidence. Ask emergency personnel, the manufacturer, or a qualified professional how to handle potentially dangerous equipment.
Whether an injury creates a legal claim depends on the facts, available evidence, applicable law, and deadlines. Potential legal theories and responsible parties cannot be determined without a case-specific review. The firm’s attorney directory provides general information but does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a generator cause carbon monoxide poisoning outdoors?
Yes. Outdoor operation does not eliminate CO risk. Keep the generator away from buildings and openings, direct exhaust away from structures, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and current government guidance. CDC advises using generators outdoors, more than 20 feet away from windows, doors, and vents.
How should I determine where to place a portable generator?
Use the generator manual and current guidance from government safety agencies. Keep the unit outdoors and away from doors, windows, vents, attached garages, and other openings. CDC and FEMA state that generators should be used outdoors and more than 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents. Do not assume that a specific distance eliminates all risk.
What are possible early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Possible symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, confusion, and unusual sleepiness. If you suspect exposure, move to fresh air and call 911. Do not return until emergency responders say the area is safe.
Who can review a possible product-related claim?
A licensed attorney can review the facts, evidence, product information, and applicable law. The firm’s storm-related generator claims page provides general information, but it is not a determination that a claim exists.
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