Fumes
Exhaust fumes – the silent killer in the workplace
Look at these pictures. You know these situations, right?
The exhaust fumes produced during the combustion of fuels – petrol, diesel, LPG, as well as those accompanying the welding process – are extremely dangerous to both humans and the environment. They contain a number of toxic chemical compounds, such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), benzene, and even heavy metals.
Long-term exposure to exhaust fumes can lead to serious lifestyle diseases, such as:
- respiratory cancers,
- heart attacks,
- asthma,
- allergies and other respiratory diseases.
What you absolutely must not do:
- Do not use combustion equipment (cars, forklifts, generators, welding machines, etc.) in rooms without adequate ventilation or exhaust systems.
- Do not leave the engine running at idle speed in garages, warehouses and halls – even for a moment.
- Do not weld in rooms without an effective welding fume extraction system and air filtration.
Symptoms of exhaust poisoning – do not ignore them!
Exhaust fumes, especially those produced by burning petrol and diesel, contain carbon monoxide (CO) – an odourless, colourless gas that acts quickly and insidiously. You will not even feel it, but it works. The first symptoms of poisoning may seem harmless:
- headache,
- dizziness,
- nausea,
- weakness,
- drowsiness.
But then it can only get worse:
- visual disturbances,
- difficulty breathing,
- loss of consciousness,
- death.
In rooms without ventilation, poisoning can occur within minutes!
Never ignore these symptoms in yourself or your co-workers. Just turn off the device, open the door, call for help. It’s better to raise an “unnecessary alarm” than not survive it.
