H2S

Hydrogen
Sulphide
 H2S – Hydrogen Sulphide
What is it ?
 It is an extremely hazardous, toxic compound.
 It is a colourless, flammable gas that can be identified in low
concentrations, by a characteristic ‘rotten egg’ odour.
 It is approximately 20% heavier than air and collects in low lying areas
 It occurs naturally in coal pits, sulphur springs, gas wells
 It occurs as a product of decaying sulphur-containing organic matter,
particularly under low O2 conditions. It is therefore encountered in
places such as sewers, manure stockpiles, mines etc.
 Industrial sources include petroleum and natural gas extraction and
refining, pulp and paper manufacturing, rayon textile production,
leather tanning, chemical manufacturing and waste disposal.
 H2S – Hydrogen Sulphide
What are the health effects?
H2S is classed as a chemical asphyxiant, similar to carbon
monoxide and cyanide gases. It stops respiration and uptake of
oxygen, causing biochemical suffocation. Typical exposure
symptoms include:
 0.2 ppm - Odour detectable by most people at anytime
 10 - 50 ppm – Irritation to eyes, nose and throat
 100 ppm - Olafactory Paralysis (lose sense of smell)
 200 ppm - Pulmonary Oedema (lungs fill with fluid)
 500+ ppm - Unconsciousness – Potentially death at any time
Prolonged exposures at lower levels can lead to bronchitis,
pneumonia, migraine headaches, and loss of motor coordination.
What are the other potential consequences of H2S
 Introduces the hazards of Pyrophoric Iron Sulphide (black sludge
deposits that auto ignite when dried in air) and acid corrosion of metals
 H2S – Hydrogen Sulphide
Where is it coming from ?
The H2S is thought to be coming from bacterial activity within pipe work
and vessel sludge rather from sour wells

H2S may be encountered from various sources;

 Minor fugitive leaks from valve stems
 During Well testing
 Opening pig launchers and receivers
 Relief system vents
 Failed joint on piping or vessels
 Releases from pipe work and equipment anomolies
 H2S – Hydrogen Sulphide
What are the controls to avoid exposure ?
 Be aware of health hazards of H2S ........this presentation
 Must use Gas Detector before, during and after routine work activities,
operator checks, PM etc
 Any person who needs to visit a H2S area must have a personal gas
monitor and an escape set with them and be competent to use it.
 For Offshore there must be provision of a standby vessel when people
are on the platform
 Radio communication with standby boat and/or control room
 No visits to H2S areas are allowed unless Tier 0 and Tier 1 medical
emergency response can be ensured
 H2S – Hydrogen Sulphide
There are 4 distinct categories.

Category 1 - Areas in which H2S may be encountered below 10ppm during normal
operations.
Access is allowed with normal PPE with no requirement to wear a personal toxic gas detector and
chemical re-breather escape set.

Category 2 - Areas in which H2S may be encountered below IDLH levels (< 100ppm) during
normal operations.
Access is only allowed with personal toxic gas detector equipment and a chemical re-breather
escape set.

Category 3 – Areas in which H2S may be encountered ABOVE IDLH levels (> 100ppm).
Access is controlled by specific precautions starting with gas freeing and removal of H 2S.
Whenever breaking into plant and equipment that has been in H2S service greater than IDLH, this
must always be done by suitably trained personnel wearing breathing apparatus (SCBA or
line-fed BA) and portable H2S detection equipment.

Category 4 – Areas in which H2S may be encountered > 1000ppm (0.1%) at any time.
Access to designated high concentration H2S areas must be strictly controlled at all times.

Note: It is expected for the most part that BSP H2S areas will be designated Category 1 or 2.
Regular pigging and de-sludging should ensure that H2S levels will not reach the IDLH.
 H2S – Hydrogen Sulphide
What do you do if there is a release or leak ?
 If the toxic gas alarm on your detector goes off you must
immediately stop what you are doing and put on your escape set
 Preferably exit upwind of area of the alarm. If you are not sure of
direction look at the windsocks on the platform/plant, these will show
wind direction.
 Call for emergency assistance from standby boat
 When in safe area analyse situation THEN go and investigate
source of leak/release (this will require SCBA equipment)
 Depending on findings and/or severity of leak/release it may be
necessary to shutdown facility
 H2S H–2SHydrogen
– Hydrogen Sulphide
Sulphide
Rescue from H2S release

 Always use SCBA to enter suspect areas

• Escape masks may not last long enough
• Do not become a casualty, this helps no one!

 Always have a fully equipped back up

 Bring victim out of contaminated area

• Longer exposure is more dangerous

 Give First-Aid
• CPR if needed
H2S – Hydrogen Sulphide

Questions
H2S – Hydrogen Sulphide

Back up detail
 H2S – Hydrogen Sulphide
Examples of activities and controls in H2S areas
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3
Areas in which H2S Areas in which H2S Areas in which H2S
Type of may be encountered may be encountered may be encountered
No. Examples
situation below 10ppm during below IDLH levels < ABOVE IDLH levels >
normal operations 100ppm during normal 100ppm
operations
1 Visits, Outside visitors, management
inspections audits, engineers, draftsmen on
field visit. Maintenance
supervisor inspecting worksite
2 Normal Operator checking instrument
operations readings, stopping/starting
pumps, but excluding any live
work such as sampling or tank
dipping. Personal toxic gas
detector and a
3 Non- Painting welded lines in pipe Personal toxic gas Chemical Re-
intrusive track, road repairs, trench detector and a breather Escape Set.
maintenance digging, repairing light fittings Normal PPE Chemical Re-
activities breather Escape Set. Offshore - Standby
boat will be available
to respond within 20
4 Non- Any work near flanged piping, mins.
intrusive pumps, vessels, compressors,
activities etc in which H2S-containing
near H2S fluids can escape through
containing flanges, seals, vents or breather
equipment valves into the immediate
atmosphere. Entry onto lower
lying areas e.g. mezzanine
decks.
Intrusive Activities: First priority must be to de-pressure, drain, flush/purge and confirm gas free.
6 Sampling Taking gas or liquid samples. Individual doing the task: Personal toxic gas
and dipping Dipping a tank. detector and SCBA worn
Standby man: Personal toxic gas detector and
SCBA at the ready
7 Leaking Operational investigation of a Controlled under permit to work or operating
equipment leak or release. instruction
Operator isolating leaking
equipment. Individual doing the task: Personal toxic gas
8 Opening live Turning a spade, removing detector and SCBA worn
equipment blank to allow gas test. Opening Standard Operating Standby man: Personal toxic gas detector and
procedures and/or SCBA worn
pig launcher door.
PTW control
9 Entry into Entry into vessels, tanks, Controlled under permit to work
vessel or buildings or compartments
other containing process equipment BSP-02-Standard-1645 - Confined Spaces (Mod
confined 07, Rev. 1.0)
which may contain H2S in the
space
atmosphere. Until gas free declaration has been made entry
into confined spaces has to be strictly under BA
with standby personnel wearing BA ‘at the
ready’.

Category 4 Areas: Access to these designated high concentration H2S areas (>1000ppm or 0.1%) must be strictly controlled at all
times and are subject to stand alone specific risk assessment for all tasks. These areas must be clearly demarcated as ‘High
Concentration H2S Areas’.
The MSA Chemical Re-breather Escape Set