Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide poisoning in the workplace can be a serious problem. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that can cause serious illness or death if it goes unnoticed in the air. It has been called the “silent killer” because without the proper safety equipment, it will be virtually unnoticed until poisoning symptoms begin to appear.
Statistics show that carbon monoxide is responsible for more than half of the accidental poisonings every year. Each year in America, unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning claims more than 400 lives and sends another 20,000 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment.
Carbon Monoxide is the number one cause of poisoning deaths in the United States. Anyone is susceptible, but experts agree that people with anemia, heart disease, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or other respiratory problems are especially vulnerable to even minimal exposure to CO and are at the greatest risk for serious injury. When one breathes Carbon Monoxide, it enters the bloodstream through the lungs and attaches to red blood cells. Hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, carries oxygen throughout your body. CO molecules attach to the red blood cells 200 times faster than oxygen, thereby blocking and preventing the flow of oxygen to the heart, brain, and other vital organs.
As CO accumulates in the bloodstream, the body becomes starved for oxygen. Breathing high concentrations of CO can be lethal in minutes. Breathing low concentrations over time is dangerous as well. Long-term exposure to low levels has a cumulative effect and can cause permanent heart and brain damage. Unconsciousness usually occurs when about half the hemoglobin in red blood cells is saturated with CO.
How It’s Produced:
Any process that involves the use of heat, oxidation, or combustion can produce carbon monoxide. Winter months can be a dangerous time for this problem. Buildings are tightly closed and unsuspecting employees do not usually notice the buildup of the gas. This dangerous gas can be a problem in buildings, repair shops, and temporary weather enclosures, as well as car and truck cabs if exhaust systems are malfunctioning or leaking.
High Exposure Areas:
The gasoline engines used around shipping docks are known carbon monoxide producers. Diesel engines are next in level of danger, followed by propane-powered forklift trucks. Employees must be particularly careful if forklifts are left running inside a truck or trailer body; hazardous CO concentrations can build up very quickly. Watch outside delivery truck drivers too as they are frequently reluctant to shut off truck engines while unloading.
High exposures may occur in forklift or vehicle repair shops. Offices above loading docks are also vulnerable as the gas rises, causing dizziness and nausea for employees working there. In shop areas, ventilation systems should be checked periodically to prevent poisoning from this gas. Fans should be on, motors and fan belts functioning properly. Hoses and duct work should be carefully connected and the systems checked for dents and holes which could impede the exhaust of gasses. Engines should be turned off as much as possible when buildings are tightly sealed during the winter.
Symptoms of CO Exposure:
Unfortunately, the symptoms of CO poisoning–nausea, headache, and dizziness–resemble other common illnesses and can be easily mistaken for a cold or stomach flu.
Symptoms to be alert for include red eyes, weakness, dizziness, headaches, and nausea. If you notice a pattern to these symptoms when engines are running in the area, carbon monoxide could be the cause. Forklifts, whether diesel, propane, or gasoline powered, are significant CO producers, especially when left idling.
If it is suspected that a person has succumbed to CO poisoning, he or she must be quickly removed and taken immediately to an area where fresh air is available. CO poisoning and oxygen deprivation is a life-threatening situation. The affected person should be immediately taken to the nearest medical treatment facility.
Preventing CO Exposure:
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Never use a generator indoors or in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces such as garages, crawl spaces, and basements. Opening windows and doors in an enclosed space may prevent CO buildup.
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Make sure the generator has 3-4 feet of clear space on all sides and above it to ensure adequate ventilation.
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Do not use a generator outdoors if placed near doors, windows, or vents which could allow CO to enter and build up in occupied spaces.
- When using space heaters and stoves, ensure that they are in good working order to reduce CO buildup and never use in enclosed spaces or indoors.
- It is important to recognize and be aware of the warning signs of CO poisoning. One must also understand how dangerous CO concentrations originate and accumulate so that hazardous conditions can be avoided altogether. Under all circumstances, fuel-burning operations must be well ventilated in order to maintain a safe breathing atmosphere.
Safety is a frame of mind…So concentrate on it…all the time!!
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