Did you know that carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for more than 300 deaths and 200 hospitalizations in Canada each year? These numbers rise in the fall and winter months, as furnaces, heaters, and gas-powered generators get more use. Because carbon monoxide (CO) is colourless and odourless, that makes it almost undetectable danger in your building.
Thankfully, CO poisoning is preventable and once you know the risks, there are steps you can take to protect your workers and keep your building safe.
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Added ventilation
Adding an effective ventilation system is crucial in mitigating the risk of CO poisoning. Simply opening a garage door or windows is not enough to guarantee levels will stay low enough on a regular basis. Because CO is lighter than air, it can travel through drywall, so where limited ventilation exists, so does the CO poisoning risk for anyone in your building. Have your ventilation system inspected and add ventilation, if needed, to properly address the CO levels in our building.
Carbon monoxide detectors
CO detectors are designed to sound an alarm before levels reach dangerous territory. Standards for placement vary according to province, so check on the requirements for your area. Along with the installed detectors, you may want to purchase portable CO detectors for your staff working in temporary locations with low ventilation.
Check equipment
Do you have tools or equipment that uses CO to operate? Gas-powered tools can often produce high levels of CO, so it’s important to inspect and maintain this equipment regularly to ensure that they are in good working order.
Educate staff
For maximum safety, keep your team in the loop. Put an emergency plan in place and post it so that people know what to do, should the alarms go off. Also, teach your team about the signs of CO poisoning, so they can look out for them and react quickly if they see or feel any symptoms.
Carbon monoxide poisoning prevention is simple, but education is key. Stay informed and vigilant to keep everyone in your facility safe.
