“What you can’t see, cannot hurt you” this statement isn’t true when it comes to toxic substances.

Exposure to the chemicals used in workplaces can lead to the various short-and-long term health effects. Skin rashes, itching, poisoning, and disorders of the lungs, kidney, and liver are some of the symptoms of harmful gases.

Among ammonia, chlorine and hydroelectric acid, carbon monoxide is one of the most toxic, odorless and colorless gas offering extreme risks to the workers. In fact, a study claims that carbon monoxide causes more deaths than any other toxic substance.

Also called as the white damp or coal gas, it comes from burning coal, oil, wood, propane gas or any chemical that contains carbon. Additionally, water heaters, cooking appliances, maintenance operations, floor operations, all are the common source of carbon monoxide.

Many ovens and furnaces also produce a huge amount of gas, especially when not maintained properly. Mostly in dangers are people working within the enclosed workplaces like manholes, garages, loading docks, warehouses and more. The most common damage associated with carbon monoxide is that you cannot easily detect the gas, as its colorless, odorless and tasteless. However, you can ask safety manager or New York construction accident lawyer to understand the rules of working with this gas and how you can keep your workplace safe. You can talk to them if you: 

• See gas flames burning orange or yellow ( ideally, they should be blue)
• Notice the presence of soot and stains on or above the fuel-fired places
• Are having difficulty to ignite the fires
• Have blocked chimney or flue
• Have difficulty in alighting Wood fires or coal
• Hear banging or clanking sounds from the boiler
• There’s an increased condensation in-between the windows
• A musty smell

How Carbon Monoxide Affect Employees?

When carbon monoxide is released, it gets absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs where it gets to the red blood cells and stops transporting oxygen to the body. Heart and brain are the most susceptible areas, which get affected because of the reduction of oxygen.

Furthermore, carbon monoxide can get into the pregnant working woman’s fetus through the bloodstream and can put the unborn baby at risk of heart defects and brain damages. Mild exposure to this poisonous gas can cause:

• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headaches
• Stomach pain
• Short of breath
• Tiredness and confusion

When exposed to a high level of carbon monoxide, the effects can be:

• Vertigo
• Breathlessness
• Impaired mental state or change in behavior
• Chest pain
• Seizure
• Tachycardia

The Early Signs Of Carbon Monoxide!

If there’s a carbon monoxide present, you might experience non-specific symptoms. It would be more like having the flu. You might feel headache, abdominal pain, upset stomach, sore throat, persistent cough and more. One thing that can assure you the presence of carbon monoxide is that these symptoms will vanish once you are out of the workplace. Ad more evidently, there would be your colleagues who are experiencing the same symptoms.

How To Keep Workers Safe From Carbon Monoxide?

Minimizing Risks:  

Aged devices, poorly maintained equipment, defective appliance, as well as inadequate ventilation, is the leading cause of carbon monoxide poisoning at workplaces. Therefore, to keep them secure, have a thorough risk assessment of all equipment and appliances. Doing this will help address various aspects related to the machinery’s location and its usage. Make sure you:

• Keep a regular check on the ventilation
• Have often audited on servicing equipment and machines
• Regularly test carbon monoxide monitors
• Keep an eye on manner in which the machinery is operated
• Move carbon monoxide-generating devices out of the workplace
• Use electric forklifts instead of fuel-powered forklifts
• Use hydraulic, electrical and pneumatic tools

Carbon monoxide is poisonous; so anyone who is affected by this suffers the above said symptoms should see a doctor or call the office health expert.