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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (PPE)

20 minutesEN / ESSafety Training29 CFR 1910.1000 - Air Contaminants (CO PEL: 50 ppm TWA)
Quick Answer

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (PPE) is a 20-minute online course that teaches employees how to recognize, prevent, and respond to carbon monoxide (CO) exposure hazards in the workplace. It covers CO sources, symptoms of poisoning, personal protective equipment requirements, and OSHA's permissible exposure limit of 50 ppm under 29 CFR 1910.1000, and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Carbon monoxide is one of the most common chemical killers in American workplaces. CO is an odorless, colorless gas that can build to dangerous concentrations before workers notice any symptoms. According to OSHA and the CDC, carbon monoxide poisoning kills approximately 400 people and sends more than 20,000 to emergency rooms in the United States each year across occupational and non-occupational settings. In the workplace, CO exposure is a particular risk in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas where combustion engines, furnaces, generators, or welding equipment are in use.

This course trains your employees to identify carbon monoxide sources in their work environment, recognize the early symptoms of CO exposure, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and follow emergency response procedures. Your team will learn the critical difference between low-level chronic exposure and acute poisoning events, and understand why proper ventilation, atmospheric monitoring, and PPE selection are essential safeguards in any setting where CO may be present.

What You'll Learn

  • Chemical properties of carbon monoxide and why it is dangerous
  • Common workplace sources of CO including engines, furnaces, and welding operations
  • OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ppm under 29 CFR 1910.1000
  • Symptoms of CO poisoning at different exposure levels
  • Selection and use of appropriate respiratory PPE for CO environments
  • Atmospheric monitoring and CO detection equipment
  • Ventilation requirements to control CO buildup in enclosed spaces
  • Emergency response procedures for CO exposure incidents

Who Needs This Training

  • Workers in warehouses and loading docks where fuel-powered equipment operates indoors
  • Maintenance and facilities staff working with boilers, furnaces, and HVAC systems
  • Construction workers using gasoline-powered generators and tools in enclosed spaces
  • Welders and metalworkers exposed to CO as a byproduct of cutting and brazing operations
  • Emergency responders and confined space entry teams
  • Supervisors responsible for atmospheric monitoring and ventilation compliance

Regulatory Background

OSHA regulates carbon monoxide exposure under 29 CFR 1910.1000 (Air Contaminants), which sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 parts per million (ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average. The NIOSH recommended exposure limit is more restrictive at 35 ppm as an 8-hour TWA with a 200-ppm ceiling. OSHA enforces these limits through workplace inspections and atmospheric monitoring, and violations carry penalties up to $16,550 per serious citation and $165,514 for willful violations as of 2025. Carbon monoxide exposure is also regulated in maritime operations under 29 CFR 1917.24, which requires regular CO testing and employee removal at concentrations above 100 ppm. In confined spaces governed by 29 CFR 1910.146, CO is one of the most frequently detected atmospheric hazards, and atmospheric testing for CO is a mandatory component of permit-required entry procedures.

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. The NIOSH recommended exposure limit is more conservative at 35 ppm as an 8-hour TWA with a ceiling of 200 ppm. Employers should target the lower NIOSH limit as best practice, especially for workers with cardiovascular conditions.
Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, which means workers cannot detect it without instruments. CO binds to hemoglobin in the blood approximately 200 times more readily than oxygen, which means even moderate concentrations rapidly reduce the blood's ability to carry oxygen to vital organs. At 800 ppm, CO can be fatal within minutes.
For atmospheres exceeding OSHA's PEL of 50 ppm, employers must provide respiratory protection in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134. In environments that are immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) - 1,200 ppm for CO - a full-facepiece pressure-demand self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or combination full-facepiece pressure-demand supplied-air respirator with an auxiliary escape SCBA is required.
The highest-risk workplaces include auto repair shops, warehouses with propane or gasoline-powered forklifts operating indoors, buildings where portable generators are used, confined spaces, welding and cutting operations in enclosed areas, and facilities with malfunctioning furnaces or boilers. Any enclosed space where combustion equipment operates requires CO monitoring.
Employees should immediately move to fresh air, alert their supervisor, and activate the emergency response plan. If any worker shows symptoms of CO poisoning - headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion - they should be removed from the area and evaluated by medical personnel. The work area should not be re-entered until atmospheric testing confirms CO levels are below the PEL.
$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.

$24.95
per person