Manitoba has recently faced serious incidents, including a fatality, related to the uncontrolled release of carbon monoxide (CO). It is important to be aware of the dangers of operating gas and propane-powered equipment indoors, including pumps for floodwaters and gas-powered tools in enclosed spaces.
Note these incidents were not limited to construction sites. They also occurred at a school, a hospital, a restaurant, a work vehicle and an office building.
Carbon monoxide poses a risk in many workplaces due to incomplete combustion in heating equipment or when gas powered equipment is used. You cannot smell, taste or see carbon monoxide. Exposure can be fatal, which is why carbon monoxide monitors are important. They detect the elevated levels and alert workers to the risk so they can move outside to fresh air.
It is important to know that carbon monoxide exposure can affect a person’s thinking, so they may believe they are okay when they are not. It is also important to know air-purifying respirators do not protect against CO exposures. Only self-contained breathing apparatus are safe in an elevated CO environment.
During investigations into these incidents, several contributing factors were noted, including:
Employers at all workplaces must consider the value of CO monitors, as per Part 4.1(b) of the Workplace Safety and Health Act and Part 36.6(1) of the Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, especially in spaces with fuel-fired heating equipment such as boilers, furnaces and hot water tanks.
Employers must be aware of the importance of mechanical ventilation and ensuring ventilation openings are kept free of obstructions and sources of contamination, as per Part 4.2 of the Workplace Safety and Health Act.
As per Part 36 of the Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, workers should be educated and trained on safe work procedures, including the presence of CO monitors and what to do when they alarm, including immediately evacuating and calling Emergency Medical Services. Workers should be educated on the risks of CO, the symptoms of CO exposure, what to do if feeling these symptoms, and potential sources of CO.
If you have questions about this topic contact the SAFE Work Manitoba division.
The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba serves workers and employers through a no-fault insurance system integral to the Manitoba economy. Funded collectively by employers, the WCB promotes safe and healthy workplaces, facilitates recovery and return to work, delivers compassionate and supportive compensation services to workers and employers, and ensures responsible stewardship of Manitoba's workers' compensation system.
