SafeWork SA issues carbon monoxide safety alert

SafeWork SA Issues Carbon Monoxide Safety Alert

SafeWork SA has issued a carbon monoxide safety alert to caution workplaces about hazards associated with fuel-powered vehicles and machinery used in indoor settings. Recent poisoning incidents, including one workplace fatality, prompted this response.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that can be deadly when inhaled in confined or poorly ventilated areas. Because workers cannot detect it through sight or smell, plant operating indoors poses a significant risk without proper controls in place.

Where This Risk Commonly Arises

According to SafeWork SA, using forklifts and other plant in confined spaces like warehouses, workshops, factories, mines, and sports venues can be hazardous due to high levels of carbon monoxide accumulating without adequate ventilation. Industry sectors relying on combustion-powered vehicles indoors face heightened exposure to this danger.

Similar incidents have occurred previously — see our coverage of a WorkSafe safety alert following two carbon monoxide poisonings in a cool room, which highlights how quickly this hazardous gas can build up in enclosed spaces.

PCBU Duties Under Workplace Health and Safety Law

"A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a duty to ensure workers are not exposed to carbon monoxide levels exceeding the workplace exposure standard of 30ppm (averaged over an eight-hour work shift)," SafeWork SA said.

Employers across every industry must ensure exhaust emissions from fuel-powered plant remain within safe limits. Health outcomes for exposed personnel depend heavily on prompt identification of hazardous conditions and swift corrective action.

Practical Steps to Reduce Risk

• Restrict indoor use of petrol, diesel, or gas-powered plant wherever possible
• Install mechanical ventilation systems in enclosed work areas
• Fit carbon monoxide detectors where combustion plant operates regularly
• Train personnel to recognise early symptoms of exposure, including headaches, dizziness, and nausea
• Develop clear emergency procedures for suspected poisoning events

Businesses managing electrical plant alongside fuel-powered equipment should also review broader workplace hazards. Our Electrical Safety Policy outlines control measures relevant to industry sites running mixed plant, while an Electrical Safety Checklist supports routine inspection of electrical plant to reduce compounding risks on-site.

Building a Stronger Safety Culture

Organisations seeking to strengthen compliance can benefit from structured tools such as Workplace Safety Rules, which help establish consistent expectations across teams handling hazardous plant. Pairing these rules with dedicated Safety Software allows businesses to track exposure incidents, monitor plant maintenance schedules, and document corrective actions efficiently.

SafeWork SA's alert follows earlier warnings issued to industry, including a hot weather safety warning and a scaffolding collapse safety warning, reinforcing a consistent message: hazards linked to plant, equipment, and environmental conditions require ongoing vigilance from every South Australian workplace.

For more information, go to the SafeWork SA website. For further compliance support, visit our Support page to access guidance tailored to your industry.