The Washington legislature, in Chapter 310, Laws of 2023, originally Substitute House Bill 1779 2023-2024 (PDF), called on the Washington State Department of Health to convene a state interagency carbon monoxide (CO) work group. The work group was tasked to develop a report detailing actions to:
- Prevent CO poisoning from sources outside the home.
- Increase awareness of at-risk groups.
- Collect data on incidents and causes to track exposure reduction.
- Identify funding opportunities.
The work group met regularly from the fall of 2023 to the fall of 2024 to gather information and discuss data. Members and subject matter experts included representatives from Washington State Department of Ecology, Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Washington State Office of the Attorney General, and Washington State Patrol.
Through reviewing available CO exposure datasets, the work group identified four main causes of unintentional CO poisonings in the state:
- Exhaust from motor vehicles and gas or diesel engines.
- Exhaust from fuel-powered heating and cooking devices, including wood stoves.
- Fuel-powered tools and equipment, including generators.
- Fuel-powered appliance malfunctions, including gas stoves.
The work group made recommendations for future state activities and options to reduce CO poisoning in Washington. View the Report to the Legislature, Interagency Carbon Monoxide Work Group, December 2024 (PDF).