Carbon monoxide pre-start check for basement, crawl space and garage jobs

When tomorrow's job is in a basement, crawl space, garage or closed-up building, your bot asks about engines and sends a short CO check before you start.

What it does

Carbon monoxide gives no warning: CDC's NIOSH says it's colorless, odorless and doesn't irritate, and it can build up to dangerous or deadly levels within minutes inside buildings or partly enclosed spaces, even ones that seem well ventilated. Common sources on the job include portable generators, small gasoline engines and tools, pressure washers and forklifts. NIOSH notes that workers who've used the same equipment many times without a problem can get a false sense of safety and be poisoned later. The NIOSH and CPWR construction toolbox talk says all fuels, even diesel and propane, make CO. Its advice: never run equipment with an engine indoors or in an enclosed or partly enclosed space like a garage, crawl space or basement; identify every CO source before you start; use electric tools, or tools with separate engines kept outside away from air intakes; keep engines tuned; and wear a CO monitor, which employers should provide where exposure is likely. NIOSH also says to keep gasoline engines outside at least 20 feet from windows, doors and other openings, and with pressure washers, run only the wash line inside. Warning signs include headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, faintness and an irregular heartbeat. If anyone feels them, turn the equipment off, get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911. Don't drive yourself to get care. When tomorrow's job is inside, your bot asks what equipment is going, and if anything burns fuel it sends a five-line check and drafts a short crew huddle message for you to send. It fits remodelers, concrete and flooring crews, pressure washing, plumbers and HVAC techs in crawl spaces, restoration crews, and warehouse work. Your company's safety plan comes first.

Copy-paste prompt

Be my carbon monoxide check for indoor jobs, using CDC/NIOSH "Carbon Monoxide Hazards at Work" and the NIOSH/CPWR Construction Toolbox Talk on carbon monoxide poisoning as background.

My work: [remodeling / concrete / flooring / pressure washing / plumbing / HVAC / restoration / warehouse]. I [work solo / run a crew of [number]].

1. When I tell you tomorrow's jobs (or the evening before, from my calendar), ask: "Any of these inside, in a basement, crawl space, garage, or a closed-up building?" If yes, ask: "Any gas, diesel or propane equipment going (generator, saw, compressor, trowel, pressure washer, forklift, heater)?"
2. If yes, send me a check, 5 lines max:
   - Can it be electric or battery instead, or can the engine stay outside, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and air intakes? (Pressure washers: only the wash line comes inside.)
   - CO monitor on and working before we start.
   - Engine tuned and running right; any fuel-burning heater used only the way its label allows.
   - Warning signs: headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, feeling faint. Anyone feels them: shut it off, everyone outside, call 911. Nobody drives themselves.
   - "We ran it fine last time" doesn't make it safe this time.
3. If I run a crew, also draft a 3-line huddle message for me to send in our group chat. Never send it for me.
4. If I describe someone with symptoms right now, skip everything else and tell me to get everyone into fresh air and call 911.

Don't tell me a space is safe; only a CO monitor reading can show that. My company's safety plan and OSHA rules come first.