Carbon Monoxide Leak at Yale Construction Site Leads to Hospitalization of 14 Individuals

A carbon monoxide leak occurred at the construction site of a building that is owned by Yale University, which resulted in the hospitalization of 14 individuals. Thus, what steps should we take to avoid this incident? This article will provide you with more details regarding the most recent case of carbon monoxide poisoning and the preventative measures you should avoid.

(Photo : Pixabay/Faruk Malek )

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Incident

On Wednesday morning, Jan. 17, a construction worker at the renovation of the Yale building passed out on the sidewalk near Howe Street, and emergency responders initially believed they were responding to a 'regular medical call' when they drove him to the hospital. An hour and a half later, the hospital alerted them that the employee was critically ill with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Therefore, the rescue team went back to the scene and discovered thirteen individuals inside the building who were experiencing headaches and had excessive levels of carbon monoxide. After further investigation, it was found that they had been cutting concrete with a saw that was powered by propane.

According to New Haven Emergency Operations Director Rick Fontana, the vapors failed to escape despite their efforts to vent the building. He also mentioned that a standard home carbon monoxide detector alarms at 35 parts per million. However, in this case, the level was 350 parts per million, exceeding the safe limit ten times.

The representative for Mayor Justin Elicker noted that nine of the 14 hospitalized individuals were contractors working on building projects, and five were Yale employees. Thus, by 11:30 a.m., Yale responders confirmed that carbon monoxide levels at the construction site were safe, and no detection occurred in nearby areas.

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Workplace Safety Measures to Avoid Carbon Monoxide Leakage

Every year, the United States experiences a minimum of 420 fatalities linked to unintentional monoxide toxicity, which also causes more than 100,00 individuals to get hospitalized.

Accordingly, most people who are poisoned by carbon monoxide get headaches, feel dizzy, become weak, feel sick, puke, have chest pain, and become confused. Additionally, individuals who have consumed alcohol or are asleep could die from carbon monoxide exposure before the first sign of symptoms.

Thus, here are some suggestions for avoiding the toxic effects of carbon monoxide on a construction site.

• Notify your employer of any circumstance that could result in carbon monoxide accumulation.

•  Pay attention to any ventilation issues, particularly in enclosed spaces where the gases produced by burning fuels may be emitted.

•  Immediately report any symptoms of nausea, sleepiness, or dizziness that you are experiencing.

• Remove yourself from the contaminated location and refrain from overworking yourself if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Report any illness to your physician that may have been caused by carbon monoxide exposure.

• When operating in enclosed spaces, it is best to steer clear of gas-powered engines, such as those found in powered washers, heaters, and forklifts.

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