Hydrogen Sulfide Monitoring and Safety

NovaSafety&Environmental Midland,Texas www.novatraining.cc

Course Objective
Toprepareemployeesforthehazards ofworkingaroundH2Sandhowto properlyprotectthemselvesinanH2S Environment.

Class Topics
GeneralProperties Irritant Toxicity ExposureLimits Symptomsof Exposure Flammability Corrosiveness Monitoring Rescue Respiratory Protection

General Properties
Invisible Flammable Explosive Toxic HeavierthanAir OdorofRottenEggs Corrosive WaterandOil Soluble

H2S is an Irritant
WhenH2Smixeswithwateritformsa weakacid. Thereswaterinoureyes,nose,throat andrespiratorysystemwhichleadsto irritation. Examples:burningeyes,sore/scratchy throat,coughing,respiratoryirritation.

Toxicity
HydrogenSulfide Gasistryingto killyouinthree differentways!

Toxicity
Webreathin Oxygenandagas exchangetakes placethroughtheair sacks(alveoli)inour lungs. Wethenbreathout someO2andCO2.

Toxicity
Red Blood Cell

O2

Oxygenisabsorbedintothebloodandthen transportedbytheRedBloodCells.

Toxicity
Red Blood Cell

O2

H2SblocksOxygenfrombondingtoyourRed BloodCellscausingOxygenDeprivation.

Toxicity
Red Blood Cell

H2SisalsotransportedtothebrainbytheRed BloodCells.

Toxicity
OnceH2Sisinthebrain,itattacksthe RespiratoryControlCenter. H2Sseekstoshutdownrespiratory systemor Slowitdownatlowerconcentrations and Itdeadensyoursenseofsmell! NevertrustyournosetodetectH2S.

Toxicity

=
H2Smixeswiththewaterinour lungsformingaweakacid.

Toxicity
Weakacidinthelungsattacksthe alveoli. Alveoliblisterandburst. Victimaspiratesonownbloodand puss,alsoknownasPulmonaryEdema.

Exposure Limits
P.E.L.=PermissibleExposureLimit Definedasthemaximumair concentrationyoucanbeexposedtoin an8hourperiod,40HourWeek, withoutrespiratoryprotection. EstablishedbyO.S.H.A.,makingita LAW.

Exposure Limits

ppmstandsforpartspermillion

Exposure Limits
I.D.L.H.=ImmediatelyDangerousto LifeandHealth. I.D.L.H.H2S=100ppm S.T.E.L.=ShortTermExposureLimit, basedona15MinuteTimePeriod S.T.E.L.H2S=15ppm

Exposure Limits

Knockedoutimmediately,deathin35minutes.

Symptoms of Exposure
Theseareyourlastlineofdefense. Committhesetomemory. Youmaynotexperienceeachoneof theseaseveryonesphysiologyis different.

Symptoms of Exposure
BurningEyes SoreThroat Respiratory Irritation Coughing Headache Dizziness Nausea Fatigue Confusion LossofSense ofSmell

Flammability H2Sisahighlyflammable andexplosivegas. H2Sfiresproduceatoxic gas.

Flammability Range
Over46%=TooRichtoBurn

U.E.L.H2S=46%or460,000ppm

L.E.L.H2S=4.3%or43,000ppm
Below4.3%=TooLeantoBurn

Sulfur Dioxide
ThemainbyproductofanH2Sfireis SulfurDioxideorSO2. P.E.L.SO2=2ppm I.D.L.H.SO2=20ppm

Sulfur Dioxide
SulfurDioxideishighlytoxic. Itiswatersolubleandformsaweak sulfuricacidwhenmixedwithwater. Itcansuffocateitsvictims. Itwillalsoburnupyourlungsfromthe insidebyformingacidanddestroying thealveoli.

Corrosiveness
H2Scorrodescarbonsteelreadily. Theoxidization(rusting)onthesurface ofthemetalformsIronSulfideScale,or blackscale. IronSulfideScaleispyrophoric.

Iron Sulfide Scale

IronSulfidewillflashasitdriesandis exposedtoair. Thiscanbeaserioushazardwhen workingonpipelines,flowlines,tanks andthelike.

Corrosiveness
H2SweakensCarbonSteelcausingit tobecomebrittleandbreak. Whyorwherewouldthisbeahazardin thefield?

Monitoring
Twotypesofmonitoring: 1. PersonalMonitors 2. FixedMonitors

Personal Monitors
Smalland Convenient EasytoUse MonthlyBump Checks YearlyCalibration

Personal Monitors
Wearonyourhip. KeeptheSensorHeadexposed. Alarmswillsoundat10ppm,why? Alarmscanbesounds,lights,vibration oranycombinationofthethree. Takecareofyourmonitor!

Fixed Monitors
FoundonRigs,WellSites,Refineries, StorageFacilities,etc SoundattheP.E.L. Alarmusuallyconsistsoflightaswell. TRUSTthefixedalarms!When monitorsgooff,leaveandmovetothe safeareaimmediately.

Stay Wind Smart

Alwayspay attentiontothe flagsorwind socks. Whenalarms sound,retreat crosswindtothe safebriefingarea.
WellHead

Wind Direction

Rescue
H2Skillsmanyofuswhenwedont think,orarenttrained,andweattempt arescue. Remember,alwaysprotectyourselffirst, thenassistanyvictimsinanH2S emergency.

In Order to Rescue:
Youmustberescuetrained, UsetheBuddySystem, st AidTrained, YoumustbeCPR&1 Youmustbetrainedforthespecific environment,inthiscase,anH2S environment,

In Order to Rescue:
YoumustusethecorrectPersonal ProtectiveEquipment(P.P.E.), Maintaingoodcommunicationwith otherrescuersandoffsitepersonnel, NotificationofE.M.S., andfollowyourEmergencyActionPlan

Rescue
IfyoudorescueofvictimofH2S, becarefulwhenprovidingrescue breathing. Aboveallelse,followyour companyspolicyonrescue. Never,ever,rescueunlessyoucan dosotherightway!

Respiratory Protection
TheonlytypeofRespiratoryProtection allowedinanH2SEnvironmentis:

Positive Pressure Supplied Air

ConstantFlowof AirinMask. PushesAiroutof Leaksinsteadof lettingyoupull toxicgassesin. Notfilledwith pureoxygen,but GradeDair.

3 Types of Respirators for H2S Environment

EscapePack: 5MinuteTank BagorTightFittingFacePiece NotforRescue,WorkorTesting!

Escape Unit

3 Types of Respirators for H2S Environment

WorkUnit: AlsocalledaSuppliedAirRespiratoror S.A.R. 5MinuteEscapeTank Mask Upto300ofLinesupplyingtheuser withair Tiedintoacascadeorcompressor

Air Line Unit

3 Types of Respirators for H2S Environment

Rescue/TestingS.C.B.A.: SelfContainedBreathingApparatus Mask,harnessand2216psiTank Alwaysturnvalvesawayfromyoutoget moreair. Willa30minuteairpacklast30 minutes? NoA30minuteairpackwillnotlast 30minutes.

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

Respiratory Protection
Checkoutyourequipmentandmake surethatitisproperlymaintained. OnlyusePositivePressureSuppliedAir inH2Senvironments. FittestingisrequiredyearlybyO.S.H.A. Nofacialhairotherthananeatly trimmedmustache.

Respiratory Protection
FitTestingisdonetoensurethatyour respiratorwillworkwhenitcounts. TherearetwotypeofFitTests: QualitativeFitTestingchecksthe qualityusingasmokeorodorant QuantitativeFitTestingassignsa numericalFitFactorusingapump systemandcomputer.

Respiratory Protection
FitTestsrequirethataMedicalExamor M.E.Q.becompletedpriortothefirst test, Orafteranymajorchangesin physiologyoraseriousillness. M.E.Q.isaquestionnairefilledoutby theemployeeandreviewedbya P.L.H.C.P.

Things that make a fit test fail?

FacialHair Glasses MaskSizeor Type Jewelry GreaseorDirt FacialStructure
Rememberthatyour companyisresponsible forprovidingyouwitha maskthatfits,butits yourresponsibilityto maintaintheconditionof themaskandavoidany facialhairorotherissues thatmayinterferewith thefitofyourmask.

Training Issues
Qualityoftraining. Employeeattitude. Managementattitude. BiLingualTraining.

Any Questions?

cmartin@novatraining.cc