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Home›Courses›Safety Training›Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (Chem/Hazmat)

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (Chem/Hazmat)

20 minutesEN / ESSafety Training29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1 (Permissible Exposure Limits)
Quick Answer

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (Chem/Hazmat) is a 20-minute online course that trains employees to recognize carbon monoxide hazards, understand exposure symptoms, and follow proper prevention and response procedures in the workplace. It is designed for workers in industries where CO exposure is a risk - including manufacturing, warehousing, and utilities - and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Carbon monoxide is one of the leading causes of poisoning deaths in the United States, with the CDC reporting over 400 unintentional CO fatalities annually. In the workplace, CO is generated by fuel-burning equipment such as forklifts, generators, heaters, and welding operations. OSHA sets a permissible exposure limit for carbon monoxide at 50 parts per million as an 8-hour time-weighted average under 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1. Because CO is colorless and odorless, employees often cannot detect dangerous concentrations without proper monitoring equipment, making training essential for prevention.

This course prepares your employees to identify common workplace sources of carbon monoxide, recognize the early symptoms of CO exposure - including headache, dizziness, and nausea - and follow proper emergency response procedures. The training covers ventilation requirements, the use of CO detection equipment, and the engineering controls that reduce exposure risk in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.

What You'll Learn

  • Physical and chemical properties of carbon monoxide and why it is classified as a chemical asphyxiant
  • Common workplace sources of CO including internal combustion engines, furnaces, and welding operations
  • OSHA permissible exposure limits for CO under 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1
  • Signs and symptoms of CO poisoning across mild, moderate, and severe exposure levels
  • Ventilation requirements and engineering controls for reducing CO buildup in enclosed areas
  • Proper use and calibration of carbon monoxide detection and monitoring equipment
  • Emergency response procedures when CO exposure is suspected or confirmed

Who Needs This Training

  • Maintenance technicians working with fuel-burning equipment in enclosed spaces
  • Warehouse and distribution center workers exposed to propane-powered forklifts
  • Utility workers operating portable generators or compressors
  • Welders and fabricators in shops with limited ventilation
  • Facility managers and safety supervisors responsible for indoor air quality monitoring
  • Emergency response team members who may encounter CO during incident response

Regulatory Background

OSHA regulates workplace carbon monoxide exposure under 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1, which establishes a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ppm as an 8-hour time-weighted average. Employers must monitor CO levels in areas where fuel-burning equipment operates, particularly in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. OSHA's General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act) also requires employers to maintain a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm, which includes CO accumulation. Violations related to hazardous atmospheres can result in serious citations carrying penalties of up to $16,550 per violation, or up to $165,514 for willful or repeated violations. Employers should implement CO monitoring programs, ensure adequate ventilation, and retrain employees whenever new CO-producing equipment is introduced or work processes change.

Frequently Asked Questions

OSHA's PEL for carbon monoxide is 50 parts per million (ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average under 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1. NIOSH recommends a more protective limit of 35 ppm as a 10-hour TWA, with a ceiling of 200 ppm. Employers should monitor CO levels in any area where fuel-burning equipment operates indoors or in poorly ventilated spaces.
The highest-risk activities include operating propane or gasoline-powered forklifts in enclosed warehouses, running portable generators in confined or indoor areas, using fuel-fired heaters in poorly ventilated spaces, and performing hot work such as welding or cutting. Any process that involves incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels can generate dangerous CO concentrations.
Early symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, and confusion. Because these symptoms resemble common illnesses, CO poisoning is often misdiagnosed. At higher concentrations, employees may experience chest pain, impaired vision, loss of coordination, and loss of consciousness. If multiple employees in the same area report similar symptoms simultaneously, CO exposure should be suspected immediately.
OSHA does not mandate specific CO monitoring equipment for all workplaces, but the General Duty Clause requires employers to identify and control recognized hazards - including toxic atmospheres. In practice, employers who use fuel-burning equipment in enclosed areas should install continuous CO monitors or provide personal CO detectors to exposed workers. For permit-required confined spaces under 29 CFR 1910.146, atmospheric testing for CO is mandatory before entry.
Online training can fulfill the knowledge-based component of OSHA's hazard communication and chemical safety training requirements. However, employers should supplement online training with site-specific instruction covering the particular CO sources, monitoring equipment, ventilation systems, and emergency procedures in their facility. Hands-on training with CO detectors and evacuation drills should be conducted in person.

Related Courses

Employers concerned about chemical atmosphere hazards often pair this course with Chemical Hazards: Hazardous Materials Safety for broader HAZCOM compliance and HAZCOM: In The Know to ensure employees understand Safety Data Sheets, labeling, and the full scope of the Hazard Communication Standard.

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$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95
Language

This course is available in English and Spanish at no additional charge.

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

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$24.95
per person