CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE WORKPLACE
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365-BSA-01-IMOT © 2024, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)
1 877 494 WSPS (9777) | 905 614 1400 | WSPS.CA
Is carbon monoxide present in waste or exhaust gases?
Carbon monoxide is produced as a waste gas by many industrial processes. It is also produced during the
operation of fuel-powered equipment or the burning of flammable or combustible materials. This applies
to almost every workplace including:
process specific emissions
general industrial sources
General industrial sources cause the most widespread exposure to carbon monoxide. These sources
which occur in a variety of industries include:
fuel-powered vehicles
fuel-powered portable or stationary equipment
process equipment
welding and cutting operations
fuel-burning heaters
heated enclosures
faulty exhaust venting
back drafting down flues
contaminated compressed breathing air
exhaust gases from explosives
Does the nature of the workplace affect exposure levels?
Workplaces vary greatly in area, shape and volume. However, workplaces can be divided into two general
categories:
open spaces
confined spaces
Open spaces usually are large areas that have adequate air flow which can remove carbon monoxide
as it is generated. Open spaces have no confining walls or overhead surfaces. The simplest example of
such a workplace is a flat lawn. During grass cutting, for example, movement of both the air (wind) and
the person moving to prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide. Confined spaces are spaces with little
airflow. Restricted movement of air increases the risk of exposure. As workspaces become confining,
small sources of carbon monoxide become significant because the concentration builds up more rapidly.
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