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Home , Carbon monoxide, Concentration, Oxide

FactSheet

Carbon Poisoning

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

CO is a common industrial resulting from the incomplete burning of material containing carbon such as , , kerosene, oil, , , or wood. Forges, blast and ovens produce CO, but one of the most common sources of exposure in the workplace is the internal .

How does CO harm you? Who is at risk? Carbon monoxide is harmful when breathed You may be exposed to harmful levels of CO in because it displaces in the and boiler rooms, warehouses, refineries, deprives the heart, brain and other vital organs pulp and paper production, and steel production; of oxygen. Large amounts of CO can overcome around docks, blast furnaces, or coke ovens; or you in minutes without warning — causing you in one of the following occupations: to lose consciousness and suffocate. • Besides tightness across the chest, initial • Garage mechanic symptoms of CO poisoning may include • • Carbon-black maker headache, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, • Organic chemical synthesizer or nausea. Sudden chest pain may occur in • reducer people with angina. During prolonged or • Longshore worker high exposures, symptoms may worsen and • operator include vomiting, confusion and collapse in • Forklift operator addition to loss of consciousness and muscle • Marine terminal worker weakness. Symptoms can vary widely from • Toll booth or attendant person to person. CO poisoning may occur • Customs inspector sooner in those most susceptible: young • Police officer children, the elderly, people with lung or heart • Taxi driver disease, people at high altitudes, or those who already have elevated CO blood levels, such as What can you do if you suspect that smokers. Also, CO poisoning poses a special someone has been poisoned with CO? risk to fetuses. When you suspect CO poisoning, promptly taking the following actions can save : CO poisoning can be reversed if caught in time. • Move the victim immediately to fresh air in an But even if you recover, acute poisoning may open area. result in permanent damage to the parts of your • Call 911 or another local emergency number body that require a lot of oxygen such as the for medical attention or assistance. heart and brain. Significant reproductive risk is • Administer 100 percent oxygen using a tight- also linked to CO. fitting mask if the victim is . • Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation if In addition, if your employees are working in the victim has stopped breathing. confined spaces where the presence of CO is suspected, you must ensure that workers test for Warning: You may be exposed to fatal levels oxygen sufficiency before entering. of CO poisoning in a rescue attempt. Rescuers should be skilled at performing recovery What can employees do to help prevent operations and using recovery equipment. CO poisoning? Employers should make sure that rescuers Employees should do the following to reduce the are not exposed to dangerous CO levels when chances of CO poisoning in the workplace: performing rescue operations. • Report any situation to your employer that How can employers help prevent might cause CO to accumulate. CO poisoning? • Be alert to ventilation problems — especially To reduce the chances of CO poisoning in the in enclosed areas where gases of burning workplace, employers should take the following may be released. actions: • Report promptly complaints of dizziness, drowsiness, or nausea. • Install an effective ventilation system that will • Avoid overexertion if you suspect CO remove CO from work areas. poisoning and leave the contaminated area. • Maintain equipment and appliances (e.g., • Tell your doctor that you may have been heaters, space heaters, cooking ranges) exposed to CO if you get sick. that can produce CO in good working order • Avoid the use of gas-powered , to promote their safe operation and to reduce such as those in powered washers as well CO formation. as heaters and forklifts, while working in • Consider switching from gasoline-powered enclosed spaces. equipment to equipment powered by electricity, batteries, or compressed air if it What are the OSHA standards for can be used safely. CO exposure? • Prohibit the use of gasoline-powered engines • The OSHA PEL for CO is 50 parts per million or tools in poorly ventilated areas. (ppm). OSHA standards prohibit worker • Provide personal CO monitors with audible exposure to more than 50 parts of CO gas per alarms if potential exposure to CO exists. million parts of air averaged during an 8-hour • Test air regularly in areas where CO may be time period. present, including confined spaces. See Title • The 8-hour PEL for CO in maritime operations 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is also 50 ppm. Maritime workers, however, 1910.146. must be removed from exposure if the CO • Use a full-facepiece -demand self- in the atmosphere exceeds contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) 100 ppm. The peak CO level for employees certified by the National Institute for engaged in Ro-Ro operations (roll-on roll- Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), or a off operations during cargo loading and combination full-facepiece pressure demand unloading) is 200 ppm. supplied-air respirator with auxiliary self- contained air supply in areas with high CO Workers’ Rights , i.e., those with immediately Workers have the right to: dangerous to and health atmospheres. (See 29 CFR 1910.134.) • Working conditions that do not pose a risk of • Use respirators with appropriate canisters, serious harm. in conjunction with personal CO monitoring, • Receive information and training (in a for short periods under certain circumstances language and vocabulary the worker where CO levels are not exceedingly high. understands) about workplace , • Educate workers about the sources and methods to prevent them, and the OSHA conditions that may result in CO poisoning standards that apply to their workplace. as well as the symptoms and control of CO • Review records of work-related injuries exposure. and illnesses. • File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect For additional information, see OSHA’s Workers their workplace if they believe there is a page (www.osha.gov/workers). serious hazard or that their employer is not following OSHA’s rules. OSHA will keep all How to Contact OSHA identities confidential. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act • Exercise their rights under the law without of 1970, employers are responsible for providing retaliation, including reporting an injury or safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. raising health and safety concerns with their OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions employer or OSHA. If a worker has been for America’s working men and women by retaliated against for using their rights, they setting and enforcing standards, and providing must file a complaint with OSHA as soon as training, education and assistance. For more possible, but no later than 30 days. information, visit www.‌osha.gov or call OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

DSG FS-3522 04/2012