Chemicals, Uncategorized

Gas Detection: Hydrogen Sulfide Hazards and Releases

Hydrogen sulfide, or sour gas, is a flammable, colorless gas that is toxic at extremely low concentrations. It is heavier than air, and may accumulate in low-lying areas. It smells like “rotten eggs” at low concentrations and causes workers to quickly lose their sense of smell.

Hydrogen sulfide, or sour gas, is a flammable, colorless gas that is toxic at extremely low concentrations. It is heavier than air, and may accumulate in low-lying areas. It smells like “rotten eggs” at low concentrations and causes workers to quickly lose their sense of smell.

Many areas where the gas is found have been identified, but pockets of the gas can occur anywhere.

Iron sulfide is a byproduct of many oil and gas production operations and may spontaneously combust with air.

Flaring operations associated with hydrogen sulfide production will generate sulfur dioxide, another toxic gas.

Active monitoring for hydrogen sulfide gas and good planning and training programs for workers are the best ways to prevent injury and death. All personnel working in an area where concentrations of hydrogen sulfide may exceed the permissible exposure limit (PEL) (20 ppm for general industry and 10 ppm for construction) should be provided with training before beginning work assignments.

Releases

If a release of hydrogen sulfide in excess of the PEL is detected, OSHA recommends the following actions.

Implement a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan including, but not limited to:

  • Appropriate instruction in the use of hydrogen sulfide safety equipment to all personnel present at all hydrogen sulfide hazard areas.
  • Gas detection where hydrogen sulfide may exist.
  • Appropriate respiratory protection for normal and emergency use [29 CFR 1910.134].
  • For emergency response information, see Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard, [29 CFR 1910.120].

Great news! BLR’s renowned Safety.BLR.com® website now has even more time-saving features. Take our no-cost site tour! Or better yet, try it at no cost or obligation for a full 2 weeks.


Comprehensive training should be provided for workers in hydrogen sulfide operations. Example topics include:

  • Identification of the characteristics, sources, and hazards of hydrogen sulfide.
  • Proper use of the hydrogen sulfide detection methods used on the site.
  • Recognition of, and proper response to, hydrogen sulfide warnings at the workplace.
  • Proper rescue techniques and first-aid procedures to be used in a hydrogen sulfide exposure by personnel trained to recognize symptoms of exposure.
  • Proper use and maintenance of personal protective equipment. Demonstrated proficiency in using PPE should be required.
  • Worker awareness and understanding of workplace practices and maintenance procedures to protect personnel from exposure to hydrogen sulfide.
  • Wind direction awareness and routes of egress.
  • Confined space and enclosed facility entry procedures.
  • Locations and use of safety equipment.
  • Locations of safe briefing areas.
  • Use and operation of hydrogen sulfide monitoring systems.
  • Emergency response procedures, corrective action, and shutdown procedures.
  • Effects of hydrogen sulfide on the components of the hydrogen sulfide handling system.
  • The importance of drilling fluid treating plans prior to encountering hydrogen sulfide.

Your one-stop safety management resource, available 24/7. Go here to take a no-cost site tour or here to try it in your own office!


Detect and Protect Against Hazards

Whether it’s information about hazardous gas detection and risks, regulatory action, news about safety hot topics, enforcement activity, or some other vital worksite safety and health issue, you’ll find it all reported and interpreted for you by our safety experts at Safety.BLR.com.

You’ll not only find what you’re searching for easily and quickly, you’ll also be able to access Safety.BLR.com workday or weekend, day or night so that you always have the information you need just when you need it.

What’s more, this one-stop safety website is a fantastic resource for safety training materials on just about any topic you can imagine.

Training responsibilities become a snap with the website’s thousands of audio presentations, PowerPoints, prewritten safety meetings, toolbox talks, trainer’s guides, and much, much more. You’ll find training tools on more than 120 safety topics along with plain-English compliance analysis and other resources.

At a time when budget considerations are paramount, what makes more sense than an all-in-one safety training and compliance solution?

And BLR has revamped Safety.BLR.com to meet your needs even better. You’ll be amazed by all the features and functionality of the site. Highlights include:

  • Side-by-Side State/Federal Compliance. By placing our state and federal regulatory analysis side by side, you easily see how to fully comply with both governmental entities.
  • MSDS Library Expansion. The site now provides an immense library of 3.5 million MSDS and SDS forms, with about 10,000 more added or changed every week. Need one? Just call up the chemical by name, manufacturer, product group, or CAS number, then print it out.
  • Newsletter Wizard. If you’ve ever wanted to publish a safety newsletter but felt lacking in editorial skills, this new addition is for you.
  • Plan Builder. Select from our library of safety plans, customize them to suit your company’s needs, and assemble them into collections you can save in our personal library.

We’re pretty excited about Safety.BLR.com and all of its enhancements, and we’re eager for you to experience it, too. That’s why we’ve created a complimentary site tour, available here. It takes just 5 minutes.

If you like what you see, you’re invited to try the site at no cost and with no obligation. We’ll even give you a complimentary special report for doing so. Go here to take a 5-minute tour of Safety.BLR.com. It may be just what you’re looking for.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.