It is imperative for teams to avoid or reduce carbon monoxide exposure on jobsites. Carbon monoxide poisoning can slow down your reflexes, affect your judgment, cause headaches, nausea and ultimately kill you. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and nonirritating gas. As an asphyxiate, it starves your body of oxygen by combining directly with your blood so it cannot carry oxygen. Only 50 parts per million (PPM) of CO in air are necessary for carbon monoxide poisoning. Monitors are set to alarm at 35ppm. Levels higher than that have been measured in congested in closed building, tunnels, tarped work areas, and underpasses.
Some Sources of Carbon Monoxide on a Construction Site are:
· Gas powered tools and equipment such as gas cut off saws, generators, compressors.
· Gas powered trucks or vehicles such as concrete trucks, bobcats, spreaders, graders.
· Space heaters fueled by natural gas, propane, kerosene, fuel oil, etc.
· Improperly installed furnaces and Appliances.
Some Work Practices to Help Reduce Carbon Monoxide Poisonings:
· Never use any gas-powered tools, equipment, or vehicles in a confined space.
· Substitute electric tools, equipment, and trucks, for gas powered when you work inside.
· Place gas powered generators and compressors safely outside the building.
· If CO producing devices must be used in enclosed areas, sufficient natural or mechanical ventilation should be provided to maintain the health and safety of workers. Perform air quality testing to monitor carbon monoxide levels.
· If using CO producing equipment inside or in confined spaces continuous air monitoring must be done.
· Be aware of others in the building using gas powered tools or equipment. The deadly carbon monoxide they are producing could end up in your lungs and kill you!
Possible Effects of Carbon Monoxide on Humans:
| Level PPM | Effect on Humans | Level PPM | Effect on Humans |
| 50 | Permissible exposure limit, 8 hours (OSHA) | 1600 | Headache, dizziness, nausea in 20 minutes – collapse and/or possible death in 2 hours |
| 200 | Possible mild frontal headache in 2 to 3 hours | 3200 | Headache, dizziness, nausea in 10 minutes – collapse and/or possible death in 30 minutes |
| 400 | Frontal headache and nausea after 1 or 2 hours | 6400 | Headache, dizziness, nausea in 1 minute – collapse and/or possible death in 15 minutes |
| 800 | Headache, dizziness, nausea in 45 minutes | 12800 | Immediate unconsciousness, danger of death in 1 to 3 minutes |
| 1500 | Immediately dangerous to life and health |
