Carbon Monoxide - sipe

Carbon Monoxide
Date: ______________________________________________
District: __________________ Site: _______________________
Time: _________________________
Department: ___________________
Manager/Supervisor Name: _________________________________________________________________
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of
solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels. Appliances fueled with natural gas, liquefied petroleum (LP gas), oil,
kerosene, coal, or wood may produce CO. Burning charcoal produces CO. Running cars produce CO.
Every year, over 480 people in the United States die from CO produced by fuel-burning appliances
(furnaces, ranges, water heaters, room heaters). More than 15,200 people are treated each year for CO
related illnesses. Others die from CO produced while burning charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle or
tent. Still others die from CO produced by cars left running in attached garages.
Many people using gasoline-powered tools such as high-pressure washers, concrete cutting saws (walkbehind/hand-held),
power trowels, floor buffers, welders, pumps, compressors, and generators in buildings
or semi-enclosed spaces have been poisoned by carbon monoxide (CO). CO can rapidly accumulate (even in
areas that appear to be well ventilated) and build up to dangerous or fatal concentrations within minutes.
Examples of such poisonings include the following:
• A farm owner died of CO poisoning while using an 11-horsepower, gasoline-powered pressure
washer to clean his barn. He had worked about 30 minutes before being overcome.
• A municipal employee at an indoor water treatment plant lost consciousness while trying to exit
from a 59,000-cubic-foot room where he had been working with an 8-horse-power, gasolinepowered
pump. Doors adjacent to the work area were open while he worked. His hospital diagnosis
was CO poisoning.
• Five workers were treated for CO poisoning after using two 8 horse-power, gasoline-powered,
pressure washers in a poorly ventilated underground parking garage.
• A plumber used a gasoline-powered concrete saw in a basement with open doors and windows and a
cooling fan. He experienced a severe headache and dizziness and began to act in a paranoid manner.
His symptoms were related to CO poisoning.
These examples show a range of effects caused by CO poisoning in a variety of work settings with
exposures that occurred over different time periods and with different types of ventilation. Workers in areas
with closed doors and windows were incapacitated within minutes. Opening doors and windows or
operating fans does NOT guarantee safety. CO is a dangerous poison. Operating gasoline-powered engines
and tools indoors is RISKY BUSINESS.
Inhalation of carbon monoxide decreases the ability of blood to carry oxygen to parts of the body. The
reason for this is CO attaches to the red blood cells more readily than oxygen. In fact, the blood attraction
for CO is about 240 times stronger than for oxygen. Consequently, the affects can be accumulated over
several hours in low concentration areas. This is why even low levels of CO can be deadly
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The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever). They include:
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness and an euphoric feeling
Many people with CO poisoning mistake their symptoms for the flu or are misdiagnosed by physicians.
Ignoring these signs and symptoms often will lead to unconsciousness and sometimes results in tragic
deaths.
The level of CO mandated by OSHA as the maximum allowable for 8 hours is 50 parts per million. This is
an extremely small amount of CO. The health effects of CO depend on the level of CO and length of
exposure, as well as each individual's health condition. The concentration of CO is measured in parts per
million (ppm). Health effects from exposure to CO levels of approximately 1 to 70 ppm are uncertain, but
most people will not experience any symptoms. Some heart patients might experience an increase in chest
pain. As CO levels increase and remain above 70 ppm, symptoms may become more noticeable (headache,
fatigue, nausea). As CO levels increase above 150 to 200 ppm, disorientation, unconsciousness, and death
are possible.
What should you do to prevent CO poisoning?
1. Make sure appliances are installed according to manufacturer's instructions and local building codes.
Most appliances should be installed by professionals. Have the heating system (including chimneys
and vents) inspected and serviced annually. The inspector should also check chimneys and flues for
blockages, corrosion, partial and complete disconnections, and loose connections.
2. Install a CO detector/alarm that meets the requirements of the current UL standard 2034.
3. Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
4. Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
5. Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.
6. Never service fuel-burning appliances without proper knowledge, skills, and tools. Always refer to
the owner's manual when performing minor adjustments or servicing fuel-burning appliances.
7. Never operate non-vented fuel-burning appliances in any room with closed doors or windows or in
any room where people are sleeping.
8. Do not use gasoline-powered tools and engines indoors. If use is unavoidable, ensure that adequate
ventilation is available and whenever possible place engine unit to exhaust outdoors.
Suggested SIPE Safety Videos:
None available on this subject
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