Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
The dangers of carbon monoxide shouldn’t be ignored. The HSE states around seven people die annually from carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur in ordinary places of work. In this guide, we’ll look at what carbon monoxide is, who’s at risk of exposure, and how to protect your people from this lethal emission.
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The dangers of carbon monoxide shouldn’t be ignored. The HSE states around seven people die annually from carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur in ordinary places of work.
From boilers to forklifts, if you own fossil fuel-based equipment, you must ensure these are free from deadly CO emissions. Not only is it part of your duty of care to your staff, it extends to anyone connected to your working environment.
Any sign of neglect can lead to irrecoverable costs for your business. It’s not just ill-health; employers could end up facing financial penalties, property closure, and even criminal prosecution in more serious cases.
In this guide, we’ll look at what carbon monoxide is, who’s at risk of exposure, and how to protect your people from this lethal emission.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, tasteless, odourless gas that’s emitted when fossil fuels burn without sufficient oxygen. Carbon-based fuels that produce CO include:
Most combustion processes (natural or man-made) emit some levels of carbon monoxide. It’s even used to make other chemicals, like methanol or phosgene. However, when these fuels aren’t burnt or managed properly, excess carbon monoxide is formed.
Yes, carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can be lethal for anyone who’s exposed to high levels of emissions.
When a person breathes in carbon monoxide, it enters the bloodstream through the lungs. The toxin attaches itself to the body’s oxygen barrier, or haemoglobin. It reduces the amount of oxygen carried around the body. In the end, it can permanently damage cells, tissues, and organs.
Depending on the level of exposure, the first initial symptoms found through carbon monoxide poisoning include dizziness, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and breathlessness.
If exposure is regular or of significant levels, people could suffer from vomiting, muscle weakness, stomach pains, visual issues, and loss of consciousness.
In the most serious cases, CO poisoning can cause paralysis, organ damage, and even death – which can happen quickly and without warning.
From office-spaces to manufacturing plants, carbon monoxide exposure can happen within all kinds of workplaces. It’s not limited to one industry – take a look at the common causes for CO exposure in the workplace:
Some business industries are arguably at a higher risk of carbon monoxide exposure compared to others. However, that doesn’t mean CO poisoning can’t be found in your workplace. The leading industries for carbon monoxide exposure include:
Transportation: Affecting vehicle drivers, traffic police, or toll booth workers.
Industrial: Affecting welders, mechanics, and construction workers.
Food and hospitality: Affecting chefs who use charcoal grills and indoor barbecues.
Emergency responders: Affecting firefighters, police, and first aid responders.
Fundamentally, anyone can become subject to carbon monoxide poisoning. However, in a workplace setting, you might find some members of your team who are at a higher risk of exposure compared to others:
Workers with diseases where it’s hard for oxygen to be delivered to organs, like the heart or brain, are more vulnerable. Illnesses can include asthma, angina, anaemia, and coronary heart disease. Such cases are often seen in older employees.
Pregnant women are also at a higher risk of CO exposure. During pregnancy, increased levels of CO can reduce oxygen reaching the baby in the womb – impacting its growth and development.
The Control of Substance Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) states employers have a legal duty to manage the risks of harmful substances, like carbon monoxide, within their workplaces.
If CO poisoning is a potential risk to your employees or anyone found on your work premises, you must take reasonable steps towards controlling it as much as possible. For example, conducting carbon monoxide risk assessments to ensure all gas equipment and locations are monitored properly. We've also created a free risk assessment template for you to download and use when required.
Without proper management, employers could end up causing serious medical issues for those in direct exposure, even death. Negligence leaves businesses facing unlimited compensation and even closure. You could end up facing criminal prosecution for non-compliance with COSHH regulations.
If you discover a piece of equipment or location that’s producing carbon monoxide, you should:
Under your duty of care, employers must take reasonable measures towards protecting people from carbon monoxide. This form of legal protection applies to anyone connected to your work premises, like employees, customers, and the public.
Any work equipment that uses fossil fuels must be regularly serviced by a qualified and registered engineer. This includes:
Ventilation systems, like chimneys and flues, must be clean, unobstructed, and professionally swept at least once a year.
Employers must fit audible carbon monoxide alarms where gas appliances are used. These must be fitted in appropriate locations and serviced regularly.
Yes, carbon monoxide exposure is arguably higher during the winter season compared to any other time of the year.
That’s because we often keep windows and doors shut, which means small amounts of CO can’t disperse properly. If the gas accumulates, it could reach toxic levels – leading to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Boilers and generators are regularly used during winter, too. If these aren’t maintained properly, they could lead to higher levels of carbon monoxide pollution throughout the colder season.
Carbon monoxide is a silent killer and can instantly cause fatalities in a heartbeat. That’s why it’s crucial to monitor and maintain all work equipment and locations that emit carbon monoxide emissions.
Peninsula provides expert advice on managing carbon monoxide. We offer 24-hour H&S advice – ensuring your workplace manages CO and other toxicities the correct way.
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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