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Carbon monoxide poisoning when using forklifts

Forklifts that operate using LPG, diesel or petrol emit carbon monoxide when running; electric forklifts don’t have any emissions. If you operate a forklift in an enclosed space without any ventilation, carbon monoxide levels can rise to the point where they are dangerous to your health.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, tasteless, odourless gas. It’s produced due to incomplete combustion and is often released in a stream of warm air from the engine which means it tends to rise, but not significantly and it does distribute itself fairly evenly throughout a space.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is poisonous and dangerous. Because it can’t be easily detected, a person could experience significant exposure before they realise. At concentrations of just 0.3%, a person will experience headaches, dizziness nausea and loss of judgement in five to ten minutes and death within 30 minutes. The CO bonds to the haemoglobin in your blood, preventing it from carrying oxygen. Eventually, this deprives the brain and heart of oxygen. Taking a person out of an environment where they are experiencing acute CO poisoning doesn’t mean they will recover immediately; mental functioning could be affected for a while afterwards while the CO in the blood is replaced.

How much carbon monoxide does a forklift produce?

You should never use diesel or petrol-powered forklifts in enclosed spaces, but many companies do use LPG-powered forklifts. LPG forklifts burn a 60:40 mixture of propane and butane. A new forklift produces around 0.5% carbon monoxide out of the exhaust. However, if the forklift is old and hasn’t been serviced, it can be as high as 5-10%. This can be more of a problem with older rental forklifts that have been driven hard. A well-maintained LPG forklift should emit no more than 1% CO.

If your forklift has a catalytic converter it will release less carbon monoxide, but only once the engine is warmed up; catalytic converters aren’t that effective within the first 10 minutes of usage.

When can carbon monoxide from a forklift become a problem?

In confined spaces with limited or no ventilation, carbon monoxide buildup can become a problem:

  • Shipping containers and enclosed truck trailers – if there’s on exit in and out, there’s no cross-ventilation; the air will be stagnant inside the container and CO levels can grow quickly
  • Buildings with inadequate or no mechanical ventilation – simply opening the windows might not be enough if there is no wind and no cross-ventilation to replace the air inside with fresh air from outside
  • Small buildings – buildings with a lower volume of air to begin with quickly gain a high concentration of carbon monoxide
  • Ship’s hold – as with containers, these often just have one entry/exit
  • Coolstores, controlled atmosphere rooms and freezers – these often just have one entry/exit and limited ventilation in order to control the temperature
  • Confined areas – the air in enclosed courtyards can become polluted if there is insufficient ventilation or wind; tunnels

There must be sufficient ventilation to remove the exhaust fumes from the area.

A New Zealand company was fined $26000 plus $7000 compensation (in addition to $10000 already paid) when a worker succumbed to CO poisoning when working in a chiller using an LPG-powered forklift. He was found unconscious on the floor after working less than an hour in the area.

What can your forklift supplier tell you?

Whether you are buying or renting a forklift, check what the CO output is and whether it’s suitable for your environment.

How do you reduce the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Dilution rate guidelines for ventilation where the vehicle is used for 50% of the workday are:

  • 10000 cfm/LPG-fueled lift truck
  • 16000 cfm/petrol-fueled lift truck
  • 10000 cfm/operating automobile
  • 20,000 cfm (or more)/operating truck
  • 100 cfm/horsepower for diesel-fueled vehicle

Follow as many of these guidelines as possible:

  • Ideally, never use petrol- or diesel-powered forklifts in enclosed spaces. Ensure that spaces where LPG-powered forklifts are used are well-ventilated to at least the minimum level above.
  • Turn the forklift off when not in use, i.e. don’t leave it idling.
  • Service the forklift trucks regularly, using an exhaust gas CO analyser to limit CO emissions to a minimum.
  • Replace fuel-powered forklifts with electric-powered forklifts, where practical.
  • Know the symptoms of CO poisoning: dizziness, nausea and vomiting, tiredness and confusion, stomach pain, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
  • Install CO monitors and alarms.
  • Train your employees so they know how to recognise and report problems, and that they know the risks.
  • If anyone is suspected as being affected by carbon monoxide they must go to the nearest doctor or hospital as soon as possible for a blood test. WorkSafe must be notified if CO poisoning has occurred.

WorkSafe produces a guide to the dangers of carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide poisoning emergencies

  • Turn off the forklift unless it’s impractical to do so, in which case rescuers must wear breathing apparatus
  • Open doors and windows and increase ventilation as much as possible
  • Move affected people outside into fresh air
  • If the person is unconscious, call 111; if the person’s heart has stopped beating, begin CPR.
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Darren has written over 3000 articles about driving and vehicles, plus almost 500 vehicle reviews and numerous driving courses. Connect with him on LinkedIn by clicking the name above

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