MM Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 OK, just been to our local supermarket, and as myself and daughter were waiting to pay, there was a refrigeration engineer trying to fix an open fronted chiller thingy. He managed to fracture one of the pipes, and daughter and i both got blasted with a white smelly gas. Before we could get out of the store, we had both inhaled quite a bit of this gas. Do any PW members work in the industry, and could they please tell me what this gas was as the manager said, "dont worry, you will be fine" . Im still coughing as i type this. Twas this kind of thing. Just worried that we might have inhaled something toxic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Not good, i would phone the medics for some urgent advise to be honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Not good, i would phone the medics for some urgent advise to be honest You;ll be fine I have been sucking it in for years as part of my work. Ain't done me any harm. Sometimes we give customers a whiff just to warm them up a and keep them moving through the aisles, although I do prefer a squirt of Nitrogen to bring the chill out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-oXo- Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 (edited) You'll live. Edited March 12, 2010 by -oXo- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Modern ones use tetrafluoroethane, which is desribed as "relatively non toxic". I'd still see a doc to be honest. ZB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 MM There are numerous different refrigerant gases, and I'm not a refrigerant specialist. Telephone the store immediatley. You need to know exactly what gas you have been exposed to. They may need to get the refrigeration company to tell them. Its classification should begin with R and then some numbers. When you have the info, do an internet search for R? Safety Data Sheet. Read Take action as advised. Do IT NOW webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 (edited) Call a doctor. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499...pg=6217,3059046 Different country mate, They use IP4 in the states which is toxic but only in sealed exchange systems and only after it has gone through the thermolastic cycle. Nothing used over here like that since it was banned in the 80's Edited March 12, 2010 by starlight32 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-oXo- Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Different country mate, They use IP4 in the states which is toxic but only in sealed exchange systems and only after it has gone through the thermolastic cycle. Nothing used over here like that since it was banned in the 80's Oh right fair play. Even so id be calling a doctor if my daughter just had a few lung fulls of any gas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vipa Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 You should be ok.... most refrigerant gasses used nowadays would appear to be non toxic unless exposed to vast quantities but if you want to be sure call NHS direct and explain what happened. My 2 year old ate some holly berries at christmas which can be very toxic, we felt a little embarrased calling but they were great and had a nurse contact us to re-assure us, she even spent about 20 minutes going through the toxicollogy data with my wife.... I suppose the problem in your case is that you don't know exactly what the gas was, only that it was refrigerant gas, which there are quite a few types of. Doesn't really help much so call NHSD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted March 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 cheers guys. going to ring the store now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawi72uk Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Get a claim in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Get a claim in For what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatjoe Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 mm as advised get medical advise better to be safe than sorry, got a few mates in the refrigeration game and they advised most gases are relatively non toxic but thats the newer stuff, but you dont know how old the fridge was, so better getting yourselves checked out joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 cheers guys. going to ring the store now. If you are doing that .......... push them to confirm what the gasses are. Best get the facts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-oXo- Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 For what? Im sure someone would find a reason. You can sue for anything now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted March 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 crisis averted Tescos have rung back to say that they spoke to the office dealing with the refrigeration contract, and all their gases are non toxic. called NHS direct (bloody nice chaps) and they said that it should be ok. If symptoms persist, seek medical attention. Daughter now seems fine, but ill get her one of my roll ups in case Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
night owl Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 ok im a refrigeration engineer and been running a successful business for the last 17 years the gas would have been either R134a or R404a its completely safe the gas does not smell what you are smelling is mineral oil that has been blown out of the pipe work this is also safe the only gas you have to be careful of is ammonia or R600A or R290 the later two are extremely flammable and these gases would not be in a industral fridge ammonia is dangerous all gases are dangerous in enclosed spaces as they deplete the oxegen the only time refrigeration gases become dangerous is when used in enclosed spaces <see above> or when the gas comes in contact with a naked flame then green flames are given of and then this becomes toxic .so please do not wory mate im in contact and work with these gases every day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Irrespective of whether it was a non toxic gas or not or if you were injurred in any way or not Tescos have seriously flouted consumer safety legislation by trying to repair this system while the store was occupied. I would take the ******** for every penny I could if it were me, Toxic or not you, and your child should never never never have been exposed to that situation. They can afford it. If you dont make a formal complaint they will have gotten away with a extrememely serious infringement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Mouse out of a molehill you big puff Ps, sure your not scouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted March 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Mouse out of a molehill you big puff Ps, sure your not scouse swear at me again, and your driving to Hodent. And get that bloody tash fixed again, you look all 'YMCA' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Mouse out of a molehill you big puff Ps, sure your not scouse Beat me to it - proxy scouse I would bet - it rubs off you know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ME Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 You;ll be fine I have been sucking it in for years as part of my work. Ain't done me any harm. These Suffolk boys have no shame ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted March 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 These Suffolk boys have no shame ! BOOM BOOM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 BOOM BOOM! All I can say is that you have been very lucky Mr M......... I paused after my last post and pondered over the bunker thread. You could have spent this evening undertaking all kinds of starlight's own medical tests to see if you are going to last the night and survive the possible 'thermolastic' poisoning. You have escaped this time........but there will always be another.....Consider yourself lucky I have spared you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 i used to work for Electrolux in luton ,if i inhaled the gas with is mostly ammonia i would have it checked out at the a & e at your local hospital Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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