A woman is reported to be in critical condition after she was overcome by carbon monoxide in a home in the St. Albans section of Queens the morning of Dec. 24. According to a WABC news report, the woman was found on the top floor of the 194th Street home. Firefighters detected carbon monoxide on arrival and used a meter to test each floor for carbon monoxide. According to the news report, all floors showed the presence of the gas. FDNY said the carbon monoxide detector sounded as they went through the home and located the woman. Both she and her daughter had collapsed, reports said.
Concerning Safety Issues
The woman was taken to a hyperbaric chamber at a local hospital in critical condition. Three additional people required medical attention including a neighbor’s wife and young son who were treated for carbon monoxide exposure. A neighbor told ABC they suspected the building owner had divided the home into four apartments creating a dangerous situation. Investigators found that the three-story home appeared to have been illegally renovated. They discovered seven apartments — two in the basement, two in the first floor, two in the second floor and one on the attic floor where the woman was found.
The city’s Buildings Department is investigating and has issued two violations — one for being over occupancy and the other for illegal, unlicensed work used to subdivide the home. Investigators said the tenants did not have adequate egress, which means they couldn’t safely exit if a fire broke out. Investigators are also looking at a water heater as a possible source of the carbon monoxide leak. They say a boiler had a venting system that was not properly connected.
This meant lethal carbon monoxide was not getting vented outside, but inside, putting tenants in danger. To make matters worse, officials said there were smoke detectors, but no carbon monoxide detectors, to warn residents about the dangerous buildup created as the boiler was cranking in the cold weather. FDNY officials also took this opportunity to caution the public that any appliance or tool that is not properly ventilated or maintained can be a source of carbon monoxide.
What Are Building Owners’/Managers’ Responsibilities?
In New York City, building owners/managers have specific responsibilities regarding carbon monoxide (CO) detectors under Local Law 7 of 2004 and subsequent amendments. Carbon monoxide detectors are required in residential buildings to safeguard tenants from the risks of CO poisoning, which can result from faulty appliances, heating systems, or other sources.
Building owners/managers must install at least one approved carbon monoxide detector within 15 feet of the primary entrance to each sleeping area. Detectors should comply with the standards set by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Additionally, building owners/managers must replace the detectors at least every five years or when they are no longer functional, ensuring tenants are protected continuously. Building owners/managers are also required to provide tenants with written information about the proper maintenance and testing of CO detectors. If a tenant moves into a new residence, the building owner/manager must ensure all required detectors are installed and functioning properly before occupancy.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Whether you have been living as a tenant at a private apartment complex or in a public housing unit (NYCHA) (the Projects), please remember that you have legal rights. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of dangerous conditions, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 53 years, our skilled attorneys have established a proven track record of assisting injured victims. One of our clients — a hot water burn victim — secured $750,000 in damages from the property owner and manager.
Our firm also obtained a $985,000 settlement out of a $1 million insurance policy for two people who suffered smoke inhalation injuries because the homeowner did not have smoke detectors installed and the $15,000 that was left on the insurance policy was for a person that we did not represent. Another of our clients recovered $2,500,000 due to a faulty space heater. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://abc7ny.com/post/woman-critical-after-firefighters-detect-carbon-monoxide-st-albans-queens-home/15702677/