Finding into death of Karl Harrison

69y · Male·Hypoxic ischaemic cerebral injury secondary to respiratory arrest in the setting of chemical fumes

Karl Harrison, a 69-year-old man with expertise in chemical products used for slate floor restoration, died from hypoxic ischaemic cerebral injury following respiratory arrest caused by exposure to dichloromethane fumes. Working alone in a poorly ventilated basement, he removed his mask and the ventilation fan was unplugged when he collapsed. He had previously survived a similar incident in 2004 where he was overcome by fumes. The coroner found multiple preventable safety failures: inadequate ventilation in a confined space, use of a product labelled for outdoor-only use, working alone without respiratory protection, and minimal supervision by the contractor despite known hazards. The European Union banned dichloromethane in paint strippers in 2012, the year of his death. Clinical lessons include recognition of toxic exposure hazards and the critical importance of engineering controls and respiratory protection in confined spaces with chemical hazards.