Fatal Facts: Commercial Cleaner Dies of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning While Using Truck-Mounted Cleaning System

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Washington (State). Department of Labor and Industries
• Description:
  On April 9, 2006, a janitorial service employee in Washington State died of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The victim had been cleaning carpets using a truck-mounted carpet cleaner in an unoccupied warehouse/office. The cleaning unit was powered by gasoline drawn from the vehicle's fuel tank. He parked his vehicle, with the cleaning unit running, in the enclosed warehouse, and had been cleaning the carpets of the office spaces. All warehouse doors and windows were closed. Every year workers get sick and some die from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by exposure to fuel-powered tools and equipment. Small gasoline and other fuel-powered engines and tools present a serious hazard with serious consequences. This incident occurred in a janitorial/commercial cleaning company; however, CO exposures exist in workplaces across industries where fuel-powered engines are used. CO is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced by burning fuel, such as gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal or wood. It can overcome you without warning. Gas levels can build up quickly in enclosed spaces. Types of equipment that have caused similar incidents include: propane buffers, generators, space heaters, pumps, blowers, compressors, concrete saws and forklifts. Preventing CO Poisoning from Powered Equipment: 1. Identify all potential sources and exposures to carbon monoxide gases. Refer to equipment manufacturers' safety guidelines and operating procedures. 2. Employers should educate workers on hazards, symptoms, sources and control of CO exposure. Training should be compatible with workers' language abilities. 3. Do not use gasoline or other fuel-powered engines, equipment or tools inside buildings or enclosed areas where carbon monoxide levels can quickly build up. Simply opening doors and windows may not provide adequate ventilation. 4. Use engines powered by electricity or compressed air approved for indoor use when operating indoors or in enclosed spaces. 5. Use local exhaust ventilation to remove CO and other exhaust gases from areas where there are no other options but to use gasoline-powered equipment. 6. Monitor the workplace exposure for carbon monoxide. Use monitors that have alarms to warn workers of high levels of carbon monoxide in the work area. 7. Even if outside, place fuel-powered equipment away from doors, windows or vents that can cause CO to build up inside. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Carbon Monoxide Education Environmental Exposure Fuel Oils Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Staff Development Workplace
• Keywords:
  Carbon Monoxide Emission Sources Exhaust Gases Exposure Levels Fuels Gases Guidelines Hazards Power Tools Risk Factors Safety Education Safety Measures Training Work Environment Workers

  More +
• Series:
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)
• Publisher:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Fact Sheet
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051300
• Citation:
  Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 47-14-2007, 2007 Oct; :1-2
• Contact Point Address:
  SHARP Program, Washington Department of Labor & Industries, PO Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98504-4330
• Email:
  SHARP@Lni.wa.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon monoxide (CAS RN 630-08-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2008
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Fatal facts: commercial cleaner dies of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning while using truck-mounted cleaning system
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:aa95c0ec2a9656af59044a7dfd80f81d786f3cb3e04efd98c44094f0a64543e268be4edc97c5bdcc1e7d73711215435d34482f565216b0a64cdd9cece9f50965
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/228700/cdc_228700_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 73.49 KB ]