The Invisible Killer: Why Carbon Dioxide Incidents Demand Greater Awareness

The CHEMTREC Emergency Operations Center (EOC) receives hundreds of calls for assistance involving releases or potential releases of compressed and liquified gases each year. Often, these calls come from workers at restaurants and bars with systems for carbonated drinks where workers do not understand the hazards presented by a release. Many callers believe the situation will not escalate to the point of harm, but these releases can easily lead to injury and death.In 2011, three people were found unconscious in a fast-food restaurant and one later died due to a leak in the store’s carbon dioxide system that went undetected. 

Dry ice can also lead to injury and death if not used, stored, or transported properly. Three notable incidents involve asphyxiation deaths caused by dry ice with one happening in a restaurant refrigerator in 2011, another involving a truck driver in 2022, and the third involving a husband and wife in a wine cellar this year. The dangers associated with carbon dioxide are not well understood by many. Very often, callers with a confirmed or potential carbon dioxide release tell our EOC that:

• There is an alarm going off and nobody at the business knows what the alarm means
• A cylinder or piping attached to it has frost on it
• Nobody at the location knows how to stop the flow of carbon dioxide by shutting valves
• They are unsure who they are trying to call or who supplies their business with carbon dioxide
• No measures to ventilate the building or isolate workers and customers from the hazard have been taken

Low knowledge of dangers, precautions, systems, and actions to take is clearly represented in these calls. Also concerning is the reluctance of callers to take action to protect life safety. Often, when our EOC informs the caller that ventilation and isolation via evacuation is the best course of action these callers are hesitant to act. This is also true when our EOC recommends contacting the fire department for help shutting off systems, ventilating the structure, and conducting air monitoring. 

Closing gaps in worker knowledge to protect life safety is needed by everyone who produces, warehouses, transports, or uses carbon dioxide or any compressed or liquified gas. Simple actions can have a significant impact on closing this knowledge gap:

1. Work with your employees and customers to ensure they understand your products and the hazards they present during a release, including how to access and use Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for emergency response.
2. When deliveries are made, check with staff to make sure they know what alarms mean, how to shut systems down in an emergency, and who to call in an emergency for help
3. Provide simple literature, in relevant languages, detailing the hazards and risks of CO2 release and what to do if there is a release
4. Ensure that your emergency number and your company name are clearly displayed on cylinders, dewars, distribution systems, invoices, and other documentation that workers have easy access to
5. Ensure that emergency numbers are clearly posted in your facility and that workers know how and when to use them

CHEMTREC can be your partner in this effort by acting as your emergency contact not only on shipping papers and safety data sheets, but for your facilities no matter how large or small. 

• Our EOC is staffed 24/7 by Emergency Services Specialists capable of giving critical information and decision support assistance during an emergency. From offering real-time support to generating detailed, compliant reports, including 5800.1 regulatory reporting, we help protect your workforce and mitigate risks.
• Our consulting specialists collaborate with you to create compliance strategies that align with your operations. By addressing potential bottlenecks and streamlining workflows, we help you reduce costs and achieve sustainable compliance.
• Managing SDSs can be complex, but we make it seamless. Our experts craft SDSs that meet the latest HazCom Standards, focusing accuracy and compliance. With our centralized platform, you can easily update, access, and share these critical documents, saving time and reducing the risk of errors that could lead to penalties or safety issues.
• Our training programs are relevant and useful for the gas industry, equipping your team with the skills they need to handle hazardous materials safely and confidently. Whether it’s understanding new labeling requirements or navigating updated hazard classifications, our practical, hands-on modules empower your workforce to meet the new standards.

Sharing knowledge, experience, and best practices across businesses and with workers is critical to protecting life, safety, health, and well-being. This also helps to protect the reputation of your company and the chemical industry. It is important to take these actions in advance and to make sure that resources are in place when an emergency happens.