What are the occupational hazards of propane fuel?
Exposure to high levels of propane fuel occurs generally only while filling tanks or from a leak from the tank or fuel delivery system. Propane gas is heavier than air; so leakage from a vehicle parked or stored near an unventilated pit or a lower level room is a hazard.
Brief exposures to concentrations of propane up to 10,000 parts propane per million parts of air (ppm) do not cause any symptoms in humans. Exposures to very high concentrations of propane (100,000 ppm) can produce slight dizziness after a few minutes of exposure. At extremely high concentrations (several hundred thousand parts per million), propane acts as an asphyxiant by displacing oxygen. This means one could suffocate if exposed to high enough concentrations of propane because it dilutes the oxygen in the air.
There are very few reports of accidental overexposure to propane; victims reported symptoms of disorientation, excitation, headache and vomiting.
In most Canadian jurisdictions the occupational exposure limit for propane is 1,000 parts per million, averaged over an 8-hour work day or a 40-hour work week. The occupational health and safety authority in each province or territory should be consulted for the latest information on exposure limits for propane.
Propane gas is very flammable and should be considered as a fire hazard.
The OSH Answers Chemical Profile on propane has additional information on this gas.
What are hazards of propane combustion products?
Complete combustion of propane results in the formation of carbon dioxide and water vapour. Carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion when there is not enough oxygen to burn the propane completely.
Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are hazards when propane-powered equipment is used in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Symptoms of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide overexposure include headache, fatigue, dizziness and nausea. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that interferes with the ability of the red blood cells to carry oxygen. Exposure to very high concentrations of carbon monoxide (more than 4,000 ppm) can result in coma or death.
Because carbon dioxide is an asphyxiant gas, exposure to extremely high concentrations (above 100,000 ppm) can result in death. Such life-threatening concentrations are very unlikely to occur in most workplace situations. However, symptoms of headache, fatigue and dizziness may show that there is inadequate ventilation in the workplace. The frequency of complaints of these symptoms increases as the carbon dioxide levels increase above 800-1,000 ppm.
How can you control the exposure to propane and its combustion products?
Regular maintenance, tuning of propane-powered engines and inspection of vehicle exhaust systems for leaks keep the exposure to a minimum.
To control exposure to propane during refueling the generally recommended procedures include:
- storage, refilling and handling of liquid propane fuel by qualified or trained personnel, and
- refueling or exchanging removable propane cylinders outdoors or in well ventilated areas, away from sources of ignition.
The refueling area should be equipped with a fire extinguisher.
When using propane-powered equipment indoors, ensure that there is adequate ventilation in the workplace. Some jurisdictions recommend specific ventilation rates. For example, the Ontario Ministry of Labour recommends a ventilation rate of 5,000 cubic feet per minute (cfm) or about 2.4 cubic meters per second (m3/s) for each propane-powered lift truck. In other provinces, check with the appropriate provincial occupational health and safety officials for recommendations or requirements for propane-powered forklift trucks or other vehicles used indoors.
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