Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
No matter what business industry you’re in, you’ll most likely own equipment that emits carbon monoxide (CO). Employers have a legal duty of care to manage the serious risks related to carbon monoxide emissions found in your workplace. Let’s take a look at how to conduct a carbon monoxide risk assessment for your workplace.
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No matter what business industry you’re in, you’ll most likely own equipment that emits carbon monoxide (CO). This colourless, tasteless, odourless gas is produced from fossil fuels used to power things like boilers and barbeques, to construction machinery and petroleum generators.
Employers have a legal duty of care to manage the serious risks related to carbon monoxide emissions found in your workplace. Without proper risk assessments in place, you could end up facing compensation fines, business closure, and even criminal prosecution.
Why not contact one of our expert H&S consultants for more advice on protecting your workplace from dangerous gases like carbon monoxide. Before that, let’s take a look at how to conduct a carbon monoxide risk assessment for your workplace. We've also created a free risk assessment template for you to download and use when required.
The first part of your risk assessment is identifying all work equipment and tasks where carbon monoxide is present. This includes finding where the gas is made and to what level. Some areas to assess include:
Petrol-powered devices: For example, cut-off saws, generators, or even slurry tanks. (This particularly applies to equipment used in indoor or enclosed spaces, like trenches or excavations).
Liquified petroleum gas (LPG): For example, heaters or cookers used in hospitality and care industries.
Gas and ventilation systems: For example, boilers or gas flues which can be found across a number of business sites.
The next part of assessment is to prevent the risks of carbon monoxide. For example, if your business uses petrol-powered equipment, try switching to electrical tools as a safer alternative.
Petrol-powered appliances must never be used indoors or in enclosed areas where proper ventilation systems are missing. It’s best to seek further advice from a health & safety professional to pinpoint these issues for you.
Further preventative measures when using carbon monoxide-linked equipment include:
At this stage, you’ll have identified all equipment or areas that may produce elements of carbon monoxide. Employers must take reasonable steps towards controlling them. For example:
Ventilation: Make sure equipment or facilities have access to proper ventilation. This includes gas equipment that produce CO at low and high levels.
Detectors: Check all CO or oxygen detectors are fully working and are located in appropriate areas.
Installation: Assign a competent person to carry out installation for all LPG/gas systems. Gas work that’s done in homes or certain commercial buildings must be completed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Other risks: Consider other potential risks associated with CO or other poisonous gases. It’s also important to think about risks related to fires and explosions that can occur when using gas equipment.
The last step in your carbon monoxide risk assessment is reviewing. Employers must ensure their workers are fully trained and qualified to use gas equipment correctly.
Supervisors should promote safe working practices during everyday tasks, as well as implement control measures for managing carbon monoxide emissions correctly.
As mentioned, you can assign all these responsibilities to your competent person to manage; or even hire an external professional to take over. However, carbon monoxide exposure is a serious risk. It’s your job as an employer to stay on top of this deadly gas and properly manage these emissions continuously.
Carbon monoxide is a silent killer and can cause serious ill-health and even death instantly. That’s why it’s crucial to monitor and maintain all work equipment and locations that creates carbon monoxide emissions.
Peninsula provides expert advice on carbon monoxide risk assessments. We offer 24-hour H&S advice – ensuring your workplace manages CO and other toxicities the correct way. We've also created a free risk assessment template for you to download and use when required.
Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with one of our Health and Safety consultants today.
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