Carbon Monoxide in the Workplace: What Workers in Manufacturing Need to Know

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  North Carolina. Department of Health and Human Services. Division of Public Health
• Description:
  In June, 2014, twelve North Carolina manufacturing workers reported experiencing headaches, dizziness, blurred vision and nausea while on the job. They were being poisoned by a dangerous gas called carbon monoxide after a gas-powered tool was used indoors in a poorly ventilated area. Don't let this happen at your workplace! Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. CO is a lethal poison that can quickly build up when combustible materials, such as gasoline, propane, diesel or wood are burned indoors. Know Your CO Sources: Processing-related: production furnace. Building-related: heating system or hot water heater. Tool-related: tile cutters, fork-lifts, generators, floor buffers, and power washers. You Can Help Prevent CO Poisoning! Learn to recognize the warning signs of CO poisoning. Immediately turn off equipment if possible. Go outdoors or to a place with clean air if you feel you may have signs of CO poisoning. Call 911 immediately. Do NOT drive a motor vehicle. Stay away from the work area until it is determined to be safe. Use less hazardous tools (electric or battery-powered) whenever possible. WARNING! Do not use equipment and tools that produce CO inside buildings or other partially enclosed spaces unless properly ventilated. Always monitor the level of CO in the air if you need to use CO sources indoors. Install a CO monitor or CO alarm in all workspaces with CO sources, and check the battery every six months. Be sure to seek the advice of a professional if you have questions about CO monitoring and/or ventilation. CO Exposure Limit Standards: In North Carolina, the permissible exposure limit for CO in general industry and construction is 50 parts per million (ppm) averaged over eight hours. The Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) level for CO is 1,200 ppm at any given time, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Best practice is to never allow CO levels to go above 150 ppm within any area at any given time. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Carbon Monoxide Education Environmental Monitoring Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Air Monitoring Carbon Monoxide Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Gas Detectors Information Dissemination Injury Prevention Manufacturing Occupational Exposure
• Publisher:
  North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Guidance
• Place as Subject:
  North Carolina ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20061708
• Citation:
  Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, 2015 Apr; :1-2
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon monoxide (CAS RN 630-08-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• Performing Organization:
  North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20100701
• Source Full Name:
  Carbon monoxide in the workplace: what workers in manufacturing need to know
• End Date:
  20150630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bf90e468822a08f9f0039c8df67ca7dfc61a229efd55a2e65086fb9cb76c2a5ef318ae5e922ad8c90d3658c3a911ff30b8687f4c239b9e96c85593062d017eab
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225142/cdc_225142_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 350.57 KB ]