Carbon Monoxide and Confined Space Dangers

Winter is the time of year that we frequently hear news about tragic carbon monoxide (CO) accidents in the home and the need for home CO monitors. These devices can be real life-savers at home and could prevent many unnecessary close-calls, hospitalizations and deaths. If you don’t have a CO monitor in your home -- don’t wait any longer!

CO is also a dangerous workplace hazard in many industrial plant environments. When you combine CO with confined spaces there is a high probability that the results will be deadly. CO is an odorless, colorless, toxic gas that can cause sudden illness or death due to asphyxiation. CO is also flammable within certain concentrations.

There are many names for CO gas, which include: coal gas, carbon oxide, exhaust gas and flue gas. CO is generated by multiple sources: cars and trucks, boats, small gasoline engines, stoves, generators, heaters and many, many industrial processes involving furnaces, boilers and burners. Don’t forget forklifts in warehouses or your loading dock area. When CO from such sources is released within an enclosed or poorly ventilated area, it becomes a confined space hazard that is potentially dangerous to people and animals.

The CDC, NiOSH and OSHA all consider CO gas to be highly dangerous. It requires preventative measures to avoid accidents in the workplace. At the 200 ppm level in the air, CO forms carboxyhemoglobin in the blood that prevents the distribution of oxygen in the body. At the 1000 ppm level, CO exposure may be fatal. People with pre-existing conditions, such as heart or lung disease, are more susceptible to the effects of this toxic gas.

Continue to read the full article, which provides detailed safety and toxic gas monitoring information.