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CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE WORKPLACE 2 365-BSA-01-IMOT © 2024, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) 1 877 494 WSPS (9777) | 905 614 1400 | WSPS.CA How is carbon monoxide produced? Aside from a small number of production processes and laboratory activities, carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of materials containing carbon. This means that it is produced from anything that will burn. Solid, liquid or gaseous materials are converted into other substances called combustion products. Burning (or combustion) may be complete (if only water, carbon dioxide and other oxides are formed) or incomplete (if carbon monoxide is produced as well). What are the physical and chemical properties of carbon monoxide? The physical and chemical properties of carbon monoxide form the basis of its health and safety hazards. The most important properties are listed on the next page. Carbon monoxide is a gas at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure. Compressed carbon monoxide can pose extreme health and flammability hazards following rapid release. The specific gravity of carbon monoxide is almost identical to that of air, so it can disperse easily through the workplace; however, pockets of carbon monoxide can form in areas with little air movement. Exhaust gases produced by engines can contain large amounts of carbon monoxide. These gases are cooled rapidly to the temperature of the surrounding air, which helps to disperse the carbon monoxide. Hazardous levels of carbon monoxide can develop when fuel-powered vehicles or stationary engines are operated in buildings or other enclosed spaces. Carbon monoxide is flammable. Mixtures of carbon monoxide and air in the flammable range will ignite if a flame or a spark is present. Flammable mixtures containing carbon monoxide and other gases can be ignited easily by heated surfaces, open flames and even by the burning tip of a cigarette. The serious nature of the flammability hazard is reflected in the extensive flammable range of carbon monoxide in air (see Table 1 on right). Table 1: Physical Properies of Carbon Monoxide Physical Properties Melting (freezing Point) -205 °C -337 °F Boiling Point (normal atmospheric pressure) -192 °C -313 °F Vapour Density (air = 1) 0.9678 Flammability Flammable Range (in air by volume) 12.5 to 74% Auto-ignition Temperature 605 °C 1121 °F WSPS.CA

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