L ET’ S TA LK S A FE TY This column addresses safety issues of interest to water and wastewater personnel, and will appear monthly in the magazine. The Journal is also interested in receiving any articles on the subject of safety that it can share with readers in the “Spotlight on Safety” column.
Carbon Monoxide: A Silent Killer S Water gushing from a 30-inch pipe near the
University of California poured into Pauley Pavilion, and six people helping clean up the flooded arena were treated for carbon monoxide exposure from generator exhaust.
S Carbon monoxide leaking from a faulty flue
pipe attached to a water heater killed the manager and sickened 27 others at a restaurant in New York.
S Downed
power lines from ice storms in the Northeast and Midwest forced hundreds of thousands to spend the holidays without electricity, and carbon monoxide from gasoline-powered generators is blamed for eight deaths.
S A 77-year-old man was found dead his home after leaving his car running in the garage.
These true stories are just a fraction of the deaths and illnesses reported every year from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Exposure to CO can occur on the job, as well as in homes and buildings that are inadequately ventilated and lack the proper detection devices. People can be affected by CO poisoning using gasolinepowered tools, such as concrete cutting saws, high-pressure washers, floor buffers, welders, pumps, compressors, and generators. An odorless, tasteless, colorless gas, CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels, such as gasoline, natural gas,
fuel oil, charcoal, or wood. Because of the potential for CO poisoning, small gasoline-powered engines and tools present a serious health hazard when operated indoors or in an enclosed space. The CO can rapidly accumulate, even in areas that appear to be well-ventilated. Buildup can lead to dangerous or fatal concentrations within minutes. Opening doors and windows or operating fans does not guarantee safety.
Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide The CO interferes with the delivery of oxygen in the blood to the rest of the body. When high concentrations of CO are inhaled, it can displace the oxygen in the bloodstream and cause one or more of the following symptoms:
S S S S S S S S S S
Poor coordination Confusion and disorientation Fatigue Nausea Headache Dizziness Weakness Visual disturbances Changes in personality Loss of consciousness
If the concentration is high enough and the exposure is long enough, CO exposure can lead to death. Approximately 1,000 people die each year as a result of CO poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Prevention Techniques In the workplace, the CDC has the following recommendations to prevent CO poisoning:
S Do not use or operate gasoline-powered
Let’s Talk Safety is available from AWWA; visit www.awwa.org or call 800.926.7337. Get 40 percent off the list price or 10 percent off the member price by using promo code SAFETY20. The code is good for the Let’s Talk Safety book, dual disc set, and book + CD set.
42 January 2022 • Florida Water Resources Journal
