How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Workplace

CARBON
MONOXIDE
POISONING
The leaders in visual safety.
How To Prevent
In The Workplace

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In The Workplace
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www.CreativeSafetySupply.com • info@CreativeSafetySupply.com
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Deaths due to carbon monoxide have
caused many families to begin installing
detectors in their homes in recent decades.
The reality, however, is that carbon
monoxide on the job is even more of a threat
to safety for many workers than poisoning at
home.

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Let’s review carbon monoxide
exposure in the workplace in its
entirety, including what exactly
carbon monoxide is, why it’s
dangerous, and how to prevent work
exposure and poisoning on job sites.

What IS Carbon Monoxide?
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It is a byproduct of combustion
reactions, or the burning of certain fuels.
CO can be emitted from gasoline
powered engines, natural gas heating
systems, oil, coal, propane, wood and
other materials which may also release
carbon monoxide when burned.

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Carbon monoxide cannot be seen,
tasted, or even smelled by human
beings.
Workers don’t even know they’re
exposed to CO until they begin to
experience symptoms, by which
point it may already be too late.

How does Carbon Monoxide kill?
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Carbon monoxide impedes the
blood’s ability to carry oxygen to
body tissues and vital organs.
When oxygen in the bloodstream is
diminished, your vital organs will be
unable to function properly.

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SYMPTOMS
First to become affected is the brain, displaying some
of the first detectable symptoms of carbon monoxide
poisoning; headache, dizziness, and drowsiness.
With enough exposure, those affected may also
begin to breathe more rapidly than normal in an
attempt to take in more oxygen, becoming weak
as well as easily confused or unable to make decisions.

Risk in the Workplace
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Carbon monoxide risk to employees comes from
gas-burning engines in machines.
Some examples that cause
carbon monoxide would be
portable generators, gas-powered
power tools and saws, space heaters,
and other appliances.

How to Reduce the Risk of Carbon Monoxide
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It’s important to ensure that proper ventilation is
present in any room or workspace so that any CO
in the air can leave freely.
Depending on the specific conditions
of the work environment, passive
ventilation (i.e. without fans) might
not be enough.

Ventilation
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You may need to employ fans
or filtration systems to help
cycle air by bringing in fresh air
or drawing CO out.

Tools
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Work sites where gas-powered
tools and machines are used
should not be enclosed
spaces, rather they should
be well ventilated or open.

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Alternatives to use include electric or
hydraulic saws and hammers, etc.
If a gas generator is necessary to
provide power for your other tools and
tasks, keep ventilation in mind.

Breathing Apparatus
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Employees need to be provided with breathing systems
that can filter out carbon monoxide where exposure is
unavoidable.
Face masks need to be fitted with an airtight seal to the
face and be capable of filtering air at the molecular level.

Safety Signs
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Safety signs can help warn employees of
any hazards that are located within the area.
The utilization of safety signs helps employees
to act accordingly since they are able to understand
and acknowledge the potential for health risks.

Monitoring
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Regardless of the preventative measures you
use, you can’t be simply guessing at whether
or not carbon monoxide will be present.
Carbon monoxide monitoring machines need to
be used before workers enter an enclosed work site,
and used throughout the day to monitor levels.

Monitoring
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Carbon monoxide alarms, such as those made
for home use, should be installed.
Carbon monoxide alarms help alert employees
and give employees enough warning to remove
themselves from a dangerous situation if it arises.

Training
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Making sure your own employees know the
types of hazards that can lead to carbon mon-oxide
poisoning is a large part of proactive safety.
Training employees can help employees identify
risks on their own while working on the job site.

Conclusion
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The responsibility falls squarely
on your shoulders as a safety
manager and/or business owner,
and all of your efforts must be
carefully planned and thought out.

Conclusion
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When administering training, it’s up to you to make
sure that training is effective and that workers retain
what they are taught.
Simple education provided by sharing a slideshare like
this one with your employees could save a life.

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May we suggest a few free safety resources?

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We are the
Leaders in Visual Safety
With a true passion for innovation and
creativity, Creative Safety Supply
understands that continuous growth and
safety never clock out.
Address
7737 SW Cirrus Dr.
Beaverton, OR 97008
Phone
(+1) 866 777 1360
Website
CreativeSafetySupply.com
Email
info@CreativeSafetySupply.com
The Leaders In Visual Safety

How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Workplace

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How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Workplace