Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide is a clear, scentless gas which is formed by incomplete combustion emissions. The most common supplies in industry are gasoline or diesel powered pressure washers, air compressors, forklifts or other petroleum fired machinery.

The chemical composition of CO is a carbon molecule link up to an oxygen molecule. Carbon monoxide kills by roping up the hemoglobin in the blood. As CO has an attraction for hemoglobin several hundreds of times greater than the oxygen that is always present, that being about 200,000 parts per million in ordinary airs. Consequently it takes only a small amount of CO to bind up a great amount of hemoglobin. This reduces the amount of oxygen released to the tissues and without oxygen; you will gradually suffocate to death.

Carbon Monoxide will affect workers as follows:

• Slight headache and dizziness
•  Nausea
• Drowsiness and an euphoric feeling
• Unconsciousness
• Death

The level of CO authorized by OSHA as the maximum permissible for 8 hours is 50 parts per million. This is a very small amount of CO. To put this into evaluation, think of a room that holds 1 million ice cubes and then take away 50 cubes from the room. Those 50 ice cubes are the maximum amount permitted by OSHA for employees to be exposed to over an 8 hour period.

What to do to prevent CO overexposure

• Check the worksite and remove any internal combustion machinery located near a hatch or other opening that can cause exhaust fumes to enter the space.
• Ensure good ventilation
• Regularly monitor workplaces for CO with testing equipment and observe employees for signs of CO exposure.
• Train employees about the early symptoms of CO exposure.