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Carbon monoxide - Incident Management

Key Points

Fire

  • Flammable gas
  • May react violently with other substances
  • In the event of a fire involving carbon monoxide, use fine water spray with normal fire-fighting clothing and breathing apparatus

Health

  • Toxic by inhalation
  • May cause harm to the unborn child
  • Inhalation of carbon monoxide may lead to headache, nausea, irritability, weakness and tachypnoea followed by dizziness, ataxia, agitation, impairment of consciousness and respiratory failure

Environment

  • Unlikely to pose a significant risk to the environment
  • Inform Environment Agency of substantial release incidents

Frequently Asked Questions       Hazard Identification

Prepared by S Bull
CHAPD HQ, HPA
2007
Version 2

This document will be reviewed not later than 3 years, or sooner if substantive evidence becomes available.