INSPECTION AND SERVICE
1-40
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Engine-powered trucks
The following carbon monoxide control to avoid its poison-
ing is the user’s responsibility.
■
Characteristics of carbon monoxide
The exhaust from all internal combustion engines contain car-
bon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, tasteless, poisonous gas.
Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause serious injury or health
problems, including death.
•
Places where carbon monoxide gas concentrated
Carbon monoxide can become concentrated in areas such
as trailers, containers, coolers, freezers, and poorly ventilated
rooms or buildings. Therefore, limit internal combustion engine
usage in those areas.
•
Symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure
Common symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure may in-
clude headache, dizziness, and nausea. The smell of internal
combustion engine exhaust means carbon monoxide could be
present.
•
Treatment for carbon monoxide gas poisoning
If an operator experiences these symptoms, move him into
fresh air, seek medical attention as required, and contact your
employer so he can monitor threshold limit values. (Consid-
eration should be given to shutting off the operator’s internal
combustion engine.)
■
Control of noxious gases and fumes
•
Source of carbon monoxide gas
Carbon monoxide is the product of incomplete burning of any
material containing carbon, such as gasoline, LP and natural
gas, and diesel fuel. Internal combustion engines that use
these fuels are sources of exposure in the workplace.
•
Control of carbon monoxide gas
Control of carbon monoxide levels in the workplace is depen-
dent on ventilation and proper maintenance of carbon monox-
ide producers including internal combustion-powered equip-
ment. See periodical maintenance of this manual.
Properly running internal combustion engines will still produce
carbon monoxide emissions.
•
Ventilation
Ventilation shall be provided in enclosed areas where internal
combustion-powered equipment is used to maintain an atmo-
sphere that shall not exceed the contamination levels speci-
ed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants.
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