CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE WORKPLACE
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365-BSA-01-IMOT © 2024, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)
1 877 494 WSPS (9777) | 905 614 1400 | WSPS.CA
The use of respirators as the primary control measure to protect workers should only be used when
engineering and administrative controls are not available or practicable, and in emergencies. If
respiratory protection is required, implement a complete respiratory protection program, including
selection, fit testing, training, maintenance and inspection. Refer to the CSA-Z94.4-18 (R2023),
"Selection, Use and Care of Respirators", available from the Canadian Standards Association,
1 800 463 6727 or https://www.csagroup.org.
Education and Training
One of the most important parts of a program to control exposure to carbon monoxide involves
education and training. This training is required under R.R.O. 860/90, the Workplace Hazardous
Material Information System Regulation (WHMIS), made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The employer must ensure that a worker who works with or who may be exposed in the course their
work to a hazardous product is aware of the hazards and knows how to use, store and handle it safely.
The training must result in the workers being able to use the information to protect their health and safety.
Training should cover the following:
procedures for safe use, storage, handling, and disposal of carbon monoxide when it is transferred
how to recognize the hazard symbol on supplier labels
how to understand the hazard warning information on a label
the contents required on a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and the purpose and significance of the
information on a SDS
health and safety hazards involved in use, handling and storage of carbon monoxide
safe working procedures
how to use control equipment
procedures for safe use, storage, handling and disposal of carbon monoxide when it is transferred
procedures to be followed when fugitive emissions are present
how to use and take care of respirators
procedures to be followed in case of an emergency involving carbon monoxide
the limitations of respirators
housekeeping procedures
procedures on how to minimize loss of containment
first aid measures for carbon monoxide overexposure
Training is an on-going process of continued updating and re-evaluation. This is necessary to ensure
continued success of the control program.
WSPS.CA
