Avoid poisoning during explosive work carried out near your home

Did you know that carbon monoxide (CO) is generally produced during excavating work done with the help of explosives? This gas could seep into your dwelling and cause serious health issues. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) has associated itself with the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) in view of inciting contractors doing explosive work to distribute to anyone concerned a carbon monoxide detector as well as the leaflet entitled Danger: explosives.

How to avoid poisoning during explosive work?

• Place an operational carbon monoxide detector in the basement of your dwelling. The RBQ recommends installing these alarms at all times. Do make sure that the alarm can be heard from any room of your dwelling by running a preliminary test.
• Ventilate your house thoroughly (two windows opened to create a draft) during the days following the excavating work done with explosives.
• If the carbon monoxide detector activates, evacuate the building and call “9-1-1” immediately.

The Guide of preventive practices - Carbon monoxide poisoning and blasting work [Fr], published by the MSSS, indicates that following a blasting operation, carbon monoxide can be retained in the soil or under the concrete slab of a building, then migrate slowly. It is therefore important to monitor the air during several days (a period of 14 days is recommended) after the blasting operations, using carbon monoxide detector.