Is it normal for carbon monoxide levels to be high in the workshop?
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I visited a company that manufactures electronic products (it seems to be transistors and sensors). The cleanroom was equipped with chip mounting and welding machines, and these devices used a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen gases – gases that were produced by the company itself for use in its operations. When we conducted tests for carbon monoxide using safety monitoring equipment, the levels were above the acceptable limit, around 300 ppm. However, it’s not yet clear why such high levels of carbon monoxide occurred; the workers in the workshop continued to work normally there. Personally, I think it might be due to the inaccuracies of the four-in-one gas detection instruments, or it could be related to the company’s manufacturing processes. If any experts have encountered similar situations, I would appreciate their guidance. Thank you!
First, assess whether there are any sources of carbon monoxide in the workshop environment. If such sources exist, use gas bags or cylinders to collect air from the workshop and analyze it with chromatography in order to confirm the presence of carbon monoxide and determine the exact level of its concentration. Afterwards, take measures to eliminate the carbon monoxide leaks in order to ensure a safe working environment. 300 ppm of carbon monoxide is already quite high.
GBT 18883-2002, the Standard for Indoor Air Quality, specifies that the average concentration of CO in the air should not exceed 10 mg/m3 over a period of 1 hour. GBZ 2.1, Occupational Exposure Limits for Hazardous Factors in the Workplace – Part 1: Chemical Hazardous Factors, sets the maximum allowable concentration at MAC of 30 mg/m3. 300 ppm already represents a high level of toxicity; it can cause chronic headaches and other health issues. It is best to take samples and conduct tests in accordance with the established standards.
This post was last edited by Yang Qing on 2022-6-21 at 10:45. To determine whether this detection instrument is functioning properly, it’s sufficient to test it outside the workshop or in the office... If, in another environment, the four-in-one gas detection instrument shows normal readings, then it’s necessary to figure out where the problem lies.
This might be a problem with the four-in-one probe; it seems to be measuring the hydrogen content in the air.