It is important to know these symptoms. They may be the only warning a worker has that carbon monoxide is in the area. Headache and dizziness may be followed by a ringing in the ears, nausea, muscle weakness, breathlessness or confusion. Continued exposure may cause a loss of consciousness and eventually death. If several workers in one area complain of headache and dizziness, consider carbon monoxide as the possible cause.
All workers are potentially at risk.
There are no body defenses against carbon monoxide poisoning. The potential for exposure becomes much greater anytime work is being done in an enclosed area. The best approach, whenever possible, is to eliminate the cause of carbon monoxide at its source. Some warehouses, for instance, have switched from gasoline or propane powered forklifts to electric powered forklifts. Local exhaust ventilation, which captures the gas at its source, is usually preferred.