An oil-lubricated, reciprocating air compressor delivering breathing air must be equipped with what safety feature?

When delivering breathing air, it is critical to ensure that the air is safe for human consumption, especially in environments where hazardous materials are present, such as asbestos work. An oil-lubricated, reciprocating air compressor can sometimes introduce carbon monoxide into the air supply due to the oil being used in the compression process.

Therefore, equipping the compressor with a carbon monoxide alarm is essential as this safety feature helps detect any presence of carbon monoxide, alerting the workers to unsafe conditions. This becomes vital because inhaling carbon monoxide can lead to serious health issues, including poisoning, which can occur even at low concentration levels over a period.

While pressure gauges, emergency shut-off valves, and air filtration systems may be important safety or operational features in their own right, they do not directly address the particular risk of carbon monoxide that arises from the operation of an oil-lubricated air compressor. The presence of carbon monoxide is a unique concern when it comes to breathing air quality, making the carbon monoxide alarm an indispensable safety feature in this scenario.