Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. Although it has no detectable odor, CO is often mixed with other gases that do have an odor. So, you can inhale carbon monoxide right along with gases that you can smell and not even know that CO is present. 

CO is a common industrial hazard resulting from the incomplete burning of material containing carbon such as natural gas, gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, or wood. Forges and blast furnaces produce CO, but one of the most common sources of exposure in the workplace is the internal combustion engine, petrol powered equipment and gas appliances.

How to Recognize Sources of Carbon Monoxide:

• Using gas (petrol) or diesel powered equipment, such as generators, saws, pumps, and welders indoors or in enclosed spaces (including trenches / excavations). Even after a few minutes this can create significant levels of carbon monoxide which can kill.

• Using equipment involving liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in enclosed spaces – eg work equipment or heaters / cookers in welfare facilities

• Refurbishing existing buildings which disrupts gas flues or ventilation systems;

• Inadequately installing new gas appliances

• Wood, charcoal, kerosene or gas barbecues, fireplaces, stoves, and heaters

• Gas, kerosene and chemical (catalytic) heaters

• Motor vehicles

Signs that indicate incomplete combustion is occurring and CO may be produced include:

• yellow or orange rather than blue flames (except fuel effect fires or flueless appliances which display this colour flame)

• soot or yellow/brown staining around or on appliances

• pilot lights that frequently blow out

• increased condensation inside windows

Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:

Red blood cells pick up carbon monoxide quicker than they pick up oxygen. If there is a lot of carbon monoxide in the air, the body may replace oxygen in blood with carbon monoxide.

This blocks oxygen from getting into the body. Large amounts of CO can overcome a person in minutes without warning — causing them to lose consciousness and suffocate. 

Besides tightness across the chest, initial symptoms of CO poisoning may include headache, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, or nausea. Sudden chest pain may occur in people with angina. During prolonged or high exposures, symptoms may worsen and include vomiting, confusion and collapse in addition to loss of consciousness and muscle weakness. Symptoms can vary widely from person to person. CO poisoning may occur sooner in those most susceptible: young children, the elderly, people with lung or heart disease, people at high altitudes, or those who already have elevated CO blood levels, such as smokers. Also, CO poisoning poses a special risk to fetuses. 

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be difficult to detect because the symptoms can be confused with fatigue, the common cold or the flu but without the fever symptoms. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from carbon monoxide poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms.

CO poisoning can be reversed if caught in time. But even if you recover, acute poisoning may result in permanent damage to the parts of your body that require a lot of oxygen such as the heart and brain. Significant reproductive risk is also linked to CO.

Action Plan if Carbon Monoxide Hazard is Believed to be Present:

Prevent: Think about eliminating or reducing carbon monoxide risks. Use safer alternatives, such as electrical tools, where you can. Never use petrol powered equipment indoors or in enclosed spaces unless the ventilation needs have been fully assessed. Seek expert advice to help you with this assessment. Specially selected mechanical extraction that vents to the outside will almost always be needed. Consider also:

• locating generators, etc outside in well ventilated spaces so that fumes disperse and cannot gather or drift into building openings.

• the impact of refurbishment work on existing gas-fired systems during the planning stage

• future maintenance access to flue systems concealed within voids etc

Control: Even if you minimise some of the risk this way, you may still do work that might create carbon monoxide. Control the risk by:

• Ventilation – make sure any facilities using LPG have adequate ventilation at both high and low level. Check it is not blocked, eg fixed grilles covered by newspaper or rags in cold weather to “stop draughts”..

• Detectors – use personal/mounted carbon monoxide / oxygen detectors where appropriate.

• Installation – ensure a competent person carries out all LPG / gas installation or refurbishment work.

• Other risks – you may have to consider other risks as well such as fire and explosion associated with petrol /LPG or confined space work.

Never use a generator inside a house or garage even with doors and windows open.

Never leave a vehicle running in an enclosed space or where the exhaust faces people working.

Report any situation that might cause CO to accumulate. 

Be alert to ventilation problems — especially in enclosed areas where gases of burning fuels may be released.

Report promptly complaints of dizziness, drowsiness, or nausea. 

Avoid overexertion if you suspect CO poisoning and leave the contaminated area.

Train: Workers need to know how to use the controls properly. They also need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

What to do if You Suspect that Someone has Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? 

Promptly taking the following actions can save lives: 

• Move the victim immediately to fresh air in an open area. 

• Call 911 or another local emergency number for medical attention or assistance.

• Administer 100 percent oxygen using a tightfitting mask if the victim is breathing.

• Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if the victim has stopped breathing. 

• Warning: You may be exposed to fatal levels of CO poisoning in a rescue attempt. Rescuers should be skilled at performing recovery operations and using recovery equipment. Make sure that rescuers are not exposed to dangerous CO levels when performing rescue operations. Turn off the suspected appliance, open doors and windows. Ventilate!

More information can be found at:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/hazardous-substances/carbon-monoxide.htm

https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Carbon-monoxide-safety

https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/carbonmonoxide-factsheet.pdf