New risk advisory outlines the risks of outdoor heaters in enclosed patio spaces
Using an outdoor heater in an enclosed space can put your workers at risk of exposure to carbon monoxide. As an employer, it’s important you know how to minimize this risk to your workers and customers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants, bars, and other eating establishments are using outdoor patios to increase physical distancing. As the weather becomes colder, you may wish to enclose these outdoor spaces and heat them using space or portable heaters. However, using a propane or natural gas heater in an enclosed space can expose workers and customers to carbon monoxide (CO), a potentially deadly gas.
A new risk advisory, Carbon monoxide exposure from heaters in outdoor dining spaces, outlines the risks of CO exposure and ways to prevent it. It also provides information about how to design an outdoor dining space to minimize the spread of COVID-19.