16. CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) SAFETY
This machine and the engine that powers it have been specically calibrat-
ed to operate safely in indoor spaces. This is accomplished by calibrating
the engine to run with a very “lean” air/fuel ratio which minimizes the
production of carbon monoxide. Additionally, a catalyst muer is provided
with the engine which specically targets and eliminates carbon monoxide.
In order to maintain a safe working environment, and minimize risk of car-
bon monoxide poisoning, the following safety information and instruction in
this section must be strictly adhered to:
DANGER: All LPG (Liquid Propane Gas) powered engines, includ-
ing this engine, produce Carbon Monoxide (CO), a DEADLY, color-
less, odorless, tasteless, non-irritating, and poisonous gas. Failure
to provide for proper venting of CO produced during the operation
of combustion powered engines may result in SERIOUS INJURY
OR DEATH to the operator and those in the contaminated area.
DANGER: Do not operate this machine without catalyst muer
installed.
DANGER: Do not tamper with regulator or other settings which
would alter air/fuel ratio.
WARNING: Dangerous carbon monoxide emissions from this
engine will increase greatly due to a dirty air cleaner. Follow the
engine manufacturer’s air cleaner service instructions.
The purpose of this section is to provide helpful information to explain how
carbon monoxide can be managed to reduce risk of carbon monoxide
poisoning:
• Potential eects of CO exposure
• Industry guidelines for acceptable CO exposure
• Measuring CO exposure
• Understanding factors that determine CO exposure
• Methods to reduce CO exposure
DANGER: Symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning include head-
aches, irritability, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, visual disturbance,
nausea, vomiting, asphyxiation, or lack of consciousness. If you or any
bystander experience any of these symptoms, shut o the machine
immediately and go outside for fresh air. Do NOT operate the machine
again until it has been tested by a qualied technician.
The toxic eects of carbon monoxide in the blood are the result of tissue
hypoxia (lack of oxygen). Carbon monoxide combines with hemoglobin to
form carboxyhemoglobin. Since CO and oxygen react with the same group
in the hemoglobin molecule, carboxyhemoglobin is incapable of carrying
Oxygen. The anity of hemoglobin for CO is 200 to 240 times greater than
for oxygen. The extent of saturation of hemoglobin with CO depends on
the concentration of the gas, the quantity of inspired air and on the time
of exposure. The severity depends on the state of activity of the individual
and his tissue oxygen needs. The eects of CO can be experienced at
dierent exposure levels, depending on the health of the individual.
Conditions that aect the tolerance of the individual are smoking, age,
temperature, humidity, and other conditions.
According to Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine 7th edition:
• No symptoms will develop at a concentration of 0.01 % CO (100ppm) in
inspired air, since this will not raise blood saturation above 10%.
• Exposure to 0.05% (500ppm) for 1 hour during light activity will produce
a blood concentration of 20% carboxyhemoglobin and result in a mild or
throbbing headache.
• Greater activity or longer exposure causes a blood saturation of 30 to 50
%. At this point head ache, irritability, confusion, dizziness, visual distur-
bance, nausea, vomiting, and fainting can be experienced.
• Exposure for one hour to concentrations of 0.1 % (1000ppm) in inspired
air the blood will contain 50 to 80% carboxyhemoglobin which results in
coma, convulsions, respiratory failure and death.
• On inhalation of high concentrations of CO, saturation of the blood
proceeds so rapidly that unconsciousness may occur suddenly without
warning.
16.1. Potential Eects of Carbon Monoxide Exposure
16.2. Industry Guidelines for Acceptable Carbon
Monoxide Exposure
Limits for permissible exposure to Carbon Monoxide vary substantially
from region to region. Consult local, regional, and national workplace
safety standards to determine limits for carbon monoxide exposure in your
area, prior to use of any propane machines.
The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for CO is 35 ppm, as an 8-hour time
weighted average (TWA). This is computed by making measurements
at intervals over 8 hours, then adding the sums of the concentrations and
the intervals, and dividing by 8 hours. For example:
The current National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH)
has determined that concentrations above the 1,200 ppm is “immediately
dangerous to life and health” (IDLH). NIOSH denes the IDLH exposure
level as the concentration that could result in irreversible health eects or
death, or prevent escape from the contaminated environment within 30
minutes.
WARNING: Deployment of a monitor/detector is essential for the
safe operation of any equipment that has the potential to produce
carbon monoxide.
CO sensors/detectors became available on the mass market around
1978. The main dierences between the technologies involved are battery
or electric and Semiconductor or Biomimetic types. Detectors for carbon
monoxide (CO) are manufactured and marketed for use in either the home
or occupational industrial settings. The detectors for home use are devices
that will sound an alarm before CO concentrations in the home become
hazardous. There is an Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Performance stan-
dard (UL 2034) for residential CO detectors. Detectors currently available
on the market are battery-powered, plugin, or hardwired. Some models
incorporate a visual display of the parts per million (ppm) concentration of
CO present in the home. For more information on CO detectors for home
use, call the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Commission Hotline at 1-800-638-2772
CO detectors for use in residential settings are not designed for use in
workplace settings. Monitoring requirements in an occupational setting are
dierent from monitoring requirements in the home. In the workplace, it is
frequently necessary to monitor a worker’s exposure to carbon monoxide
over an entire work shift and determine the time-weighted average (TWA)
concentration of the exposure. It may also be necessary to have carbon
monoxide monitors with alarm capabilities in the workplace. The direct
reading instruments are frequently equipped with audio and/or visual
alarms and may be used for area and/or personal exposure monitoring.
Some have microprocessors and memory for storing CO concentration
readings taken during the day. It is signicant to note that some of the de-
vices mentioned for workplace CO monitoring are not capable of monitor-
ing TWAs, and not all are equipped with alarms. The appropriate monitor
must be chosen on an application-by-application basis. For more
information on the availability of workplace CO monitors or their appli-
cation, call the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at
1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674).
Time
8:00-9:00
9:00-10:00
10:00-11:00
11:00-12:00
12:00-1:00
1:00-2:00
2:00-3:00
3:00-4:00
Interval
1 HR
1 HR
1 HR
1 HR
1 HR
1 HR
1 HR
1 HR
PPM
100
25
25
50
50
50
50
50
Time intervals = 8 HR
Total ppm = 400
Time Weighted Average (TWA) = 400 ppm / 8 HR = 50 PPM/Hrof t
16.3. Measuring Carbon Monoxide Exposure
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