Concerns about carbon monoxide poisoning from gas-powered forklifts

ATTENTION ALL BUSINESS OWNERS!
Earlier this month, four workers at Australian Premium Dried Fruits suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning after working inside a cool room for extended periods of time. The workers experienced headaches and nausea at work and were taken to hospital.

Mike Maynard, the company’s chief executive said they have decided to replace gas-powered forklifts with electric forklifts from now on. “We’re just thankful that everybody’s come out of it because the potential was there with that build-up of gas and there was nothing to indicate what was going on until it affected those employees, so it was concerning,” he told ABC News.

Carbon monoxide is the single most common cause of poisoning in industry. Carbon monoxide is produced whenever organic material such as oil, petrol or gas is burned. It is a colourless, odourless, non-irritating gas with no inherent warning properties. If not discovered carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to drowsiness, impaired judgement and eventually collapse, coma and death.

The South Australian Government has issued a safeguarding document, Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, it says that, “carbon monoxide, particularly from LPG-powered forklift trucks occurs frequently with little or no warning. Every workplace should be assessed for potential carbon monoxide hazards and definitive corrective measures must be applied whenever a risk can be identified.”

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