The cold hit Minnesota hard and fast. With it, windows and doors have been shut tight and the heat has been turned on, both at home and at our businesses.
Every year we read about someone dying from carbon monoxide poisoning–whether it is miners who haven’t survived a cave in, someone in their ice fishing house, or a family going to sleep and not waking up due to a faulty furnace.
Common sources of carbon monoxide are furnaces, running vehicles indoors and running internal combustion forklifts indoors.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas. Carbon monoxide robs your body of oxygen. High concentrations can kill. Low concentrations can damage your heart. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are severe frontal headaches, a sick, flu-like feeling, and being tired.
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, employees should report signs of headaches and flu-like symptoms. Especially is these go away once you are away from work. Make sure your furnace is tuned and your ventilation system works properly.
If you are running engines indoors (vehicles, forklifts), you must check your carbon monoxide levels.
For more information, or if you need help with safety issues, please contact us at carkey@chess-safety.com.