Carbon monoxide is called the “silent killer” because it’s an invisible, odorless poison. It’s so hard to detect without a monitor that it kills hundreds of unsuspecting people on the job and in their homes every year.
Organic materials such as wood, oil, or gasoline produce carbon monoxide (CO) when they burn. CO is also generated when a flame contacts a surface that’s cooler than the flame gas’s ignition temperature.
Business and home heating systems that burn oil, gas, or coal also produce CO gas. So do foundries, blast furnaces, mining operations, gas works, refuse plants, and such processes as chemical synthesis, carbide and formaldehyde manufacturing, and acetylene welding in enclosed areas.
Many industries use carbon monoxide liquid in their production processes.
The most common source of CO exposure, however, is exhaust from a car, truck, or forklift. This creates risks for mechanics and drivers as well as employees who work on or around loading docks and other areas where fuel-burning vehicles are used.
OSHA Requirements
OSHA lists carbon monoxide in its table of air contaminants (Table Z-1, 29 CFR 1910.1000). The permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 50 parts per million (ppm) of air as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA).
Since carbon monoxide is a hazardous substance, it is also regulated by the hazard communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), which requires you to identify hazardous substances that are, or may be, present in the workplace and to train workers about hazards and precautions.
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Symptoms
CO is so dangerous because people don’t realize that it’s present. You can’t see or smell it. But if large enough quantities of this poison gas are inhaled, you can die within minutes.
Inhaling even small amounts can cause health problems. That is why it is so important for your employees to be alert to the symptoms of CO poisoning.
Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
Headache- Dizziness
- Fatigue and drowsiness
- Nausea
Of course, because these symptoms are common, they may easily be mistaken for signs of other illnesses such as colds, flu, or food poisoning. Furthermore, symptoms vary widely from person to person. Even if a person doesn’t feel too sick, he or she should get medical attention if symptoms are present and the cause could be carbon monoxide. The doctor can administer a blood test that can verify exposure.
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More advanced symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
Tightness across the chest- Muscle weakness
- Irritability
- Chest pains (for people with heart conditions)
- Vomiting (prolonged or high exposures)
- Confusion (prolonged or high exposures)
- Loss of consciousness (prolonged or high exposures)
Generally, advanced symptoms occur after prolonged or high-level exposure. However, some people may develop the more serious signs of poisoning sooner than others. Encourage employees to take all symptoms seriously, consider the possibility that carbon monoxide may be present, and get medical attention.
First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning includes:
Moving the victim immediately to fresh air in an open area- Calling for emergency medical assistance
- Administering 100-percent oxygen using a tight-fitting mask if the victim is breathing
- Administering CPR if the victim has stopped breathing
We’ll continue with our safety review of carbon monoxide in tomorrow’s Advisor, focusing on exposure prevention training for employees.