1 H2S SAFET HANDBOOK BY K.L.N.

RAO
H2S SAFETY FOR OIL, GAS AND PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY ANYONE WHO HAS WORKED ON THE OILFIELD OR THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY EVEN FOR A SHORT TIME IS AWARE THAT THERE ARE MANY POTENTIAL HAZARDS PRESENT ON EXPLORATION, PRODUCTION AND REFINING FACILITIES. SAFETY CONSCIOUS WORKERS FIND THAT MANY OF THESE HAZARDS ARE EASILY DETECTED.ONCE HAZARD IS RECOGNIZED,ITS IS A FAIRLY ROUTINE PROCEDURE TO TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY TO PROTECT YOURSELF ,AS LONG AS THE PROPER SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT IS IN PLACE.HOWEVER ,THERE IS A HAZARD FOUND ON SOME LOCATIONS THAT IS NOT EASILY RECOGNIZED - H2S. OVER THE YEARS ,H2S(HYDROGEN SULPHIDE) HAS KILLED NUMEROUS WORKERS IN THE OILFIELD AND PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES.MANY OF ITS VICTIMS WERE COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT A DEADLY CONCENTRATION OF THE GAS WAS PRESENT,SINCE IT IS INVISIBLE AND DEADENS THE SENSE OF SMELL AT HIGH CONCENTRATIONS . UNFORTUNATELY MANY OTHER VICTIMS WERE AWARE HYDROGEN SULFIDE WAS PRESENT AND SIMPLY FAILE D TO TAKE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS.THERE ARE INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMITS AS PER API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 49,ANSI Z390.1 AND OSHA PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMITS. COMPANIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRAINING OF THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES BY A QUALIFIED H2S SAFETY INSTRUCTOR.DATES ,INSTRUCTOR , ATTENDEES , AND SUBJECTS FOR ALL PERSONNEL TRAINING SESSIONS SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED AND APPROPRIATE RECORDS RETAINED BY THE EMPLOYER FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR. WHAT IS H2S ? HYDROGEN SULFIDE IS A DEADLY GAS WHICH IS MADE UP OF ONE ATOM OF SULFUR AND TWO ATOMS OF HYDROGEN.IT HAS MANY NAMES, AND YOU MAY HEAR IT REFFERED TO BY SCIENTIFIC NAMES SUCH AS y H2S y DISULFUR HYDRIDE y SULFUR HYDRIDE y DIHYDROGEN MONOSULFIDE y DIHYDROGEN SULFIDE y SULFURETTED HYDROGEN y HYDROSULFURIC ACID. YOU MAY ALSO HEAR IT REFFERED TO BY COMMON NAMES SUCH AS y y y y y SOUR GAS SEWER GAS SWAMP GAS ROTTEN EGG GAS STINK DAMP

IN INDUSTRIAL SETTINGS, THE NAME MOST COMMONLY USED IS H2S. H2S IS FORMED WHEN BACTERIA BREAKDOWN THE SULFUR RICH PROTIENS FOUND IN DEAD PLANTS AND ANIMALS.ALTHOUGH THIS CAN HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF W HETHER OR NOT OXYGEN IS PRESENT, THE BACTERIA TENDS TO PRODUCE MORE H2S IN STAGNANT ,LOW OXYGEN ENVIRONMENTS, SUCH AS SWAMPS,SEPTIC TANKS,AND IN THE BOTTOM OF OIL PRODUC TION TANKS. SINCE OIL AND GAS ARE ALSO CREATED FROM ORGANIC MATERIALS TRAPPED IN SEDIMENT,H2S IS OFTEN FOUND IN ASSOCIATION WITH HYDROCARBON BEARING FORMATIONS. WHEN H2S IS FOUND IN A FORMATION,IT IS USUALLY CREATEDM SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE OIL AND GAS. HOWEVER ,IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE H2S TO BE CREATED AT THE LATER DATE BY CHEMICALS OR BACTERIA INTRODUCED INTO THE FORMATION DURING PRODUCTION OPERATIONS, SUCH AS ACIDIZING OR WATER FLOODING.WHEN THIS PROCESS STARTS,A WELL WILL USUALLY DEVELOP SLOWLY INCREASING CONCENTRATION OF H2S OVER ITS PRODUCTION LIFE. PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

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IN ORDER TO WORK SAFELY AROUND H2S, YOU MUST BE AWARE OF ITS PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS. HYDROGEN SULFIDE HAS A COMBINATION OF PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKES IT PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH. HYDROGEN SULFIDE IS AN EXTREMELY TOXIC GAS AND IT CAN CAUSE A VARI ETY OF HEALTH PROBLEMS,DEPENDING UPON THE CONCENTRATION AND DURATION OF EXPOSURE . WHEN PRESENTING INFORMATION ON THE TOXICITY OF GASES,THE UNIT OF MEASURE MOST COMMONLY USED IS PPM(PARTS PER MILLION).EACH PPM IS ONE MILLIONTH OF THE VOL IN QUESTION.10000 PPM IS 1% BY VOL.CONCENTRATIONS OF H2S ABOVE 10PPM,OR 0.001% BY VOLUME ARE CONSIDERED UNHEALTHY. THE AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTAL INDUSTRIAL HYGENISTS HAS DETERMINED THAT IT IS SAFE TO BE EXPOSED TO A MAX AVERAGE CONCENTRATION OF 10PPM DURING A 40 HOUR WORKWEEK.THIS CONCENTRATION IS KNOWN AS THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE-TIE WEIGHTED AVERAGE.HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OR LONGER DURATIONS OF EXPOSURES,ARE POTENTIALLY HARMFULL . SHORT TERM EXPOSURES TO CONCENTRATIONS BETWEEN 10 -100PPM CAN CAUSE MILD EYE AND RESPIR ATORY TRACT IRRITATION,HEADACHES ,AND NAUSEA.LONG TERM EXPOSURES TO CONCENTRATIONS IN THIS RANGE CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE EYES,INCLUDING ULCERATED CORNEAS.IN SOME CASES ,EXPOSURES IN THIS RANGE MAY ALSO CAUSE: y y SLEEP DISTURBANCES LOSS OF APPETITE

SHORT TERM EXPOSURE TO CONCENTRATIONS BETWEEN 100PPM AND 400PPM CAN CAUSE SERIOUS : y y y y y EYE AND RESPIRATORY TRACT IRRITATION HEADACHES NAUSEA DISORIENTATION GASTROINTESTINAL DISTURBANCES

IN ADDITION TO THESE PROBLEMS,LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO CONCENTRATIONS IN THIS RANGE CAN CAUSE PULMONARY EDEMA,WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS CHEMICAL PNEUMONIA.CHEMICAL PNEUMONIA IS A VERY SERIOUS CONDITION THAT IS FATAL IF LEFT UNTREATED . SHORT TERM EXPOSER TO CONCENTRATIONS ABOVE 500PPM CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS DUE TO RESPIRATORY ARREST. H2S CAUSES RESPIRATORY ARREST BY DISRUPTING THE SIGNALS SENT BY THE NERVES IN THE BRAIN THAT CONTROL BREATHING.BETWEEN 500PPM -700PPM RESPIRATORY ARREST CAN TAKE MINUTES OR HOURS TO DEVELOP. HOWEVER,AT CONCENTRATIONS OVER 700PPM,RESPIRATORY ARREST CAN RESULT FROM JUST ONE BREATH.IF THE VICTIM IS NOT RESCUED AND RESUSCITATED WITHIN THREE TO SIX MINUTES,PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE OR DEATH IS LIKELY TO RESULT . UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES,INDIVIDUALS CAN EXPERIENCE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF H2S EXPOSURE AT CONCENTRATIONS LOWER THAN THOSE PRESENTED HERE.FACTORS THAT MIGHT MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL MORE SUSCPETIBLE TO H2S INCLUDE: y y y y PREVIOUS EXPOSURE TO H2S USE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS HEALTH PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE RESPIRATORY,CIRCULATORY,NERVO US SYSTEMS AND PERSONAL BIOCHEMISTRY.

BECAUSE MEDICATIONS AND HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN RESULT IN SENSITIVITY TO H2S,IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW YOUR COMPANYS GUIDELINES CONCERNING THE MEDICAL EVALUATION OF PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO WORK IN AREAS THAT MIGHT CONTAIN H2S.YOU SHOULD MAKE YOUR EMPLOYER AWARE OF ANY PREVIOUS EXPOSURE TO H2S OR HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT COULD INCREASE YOUR SUSCPETIBILITY TO H2S. ANOTHER DANGEROUS PROPERTY OF H2S IS ITS VERY POOR WARNING CHARACTERISTICS.

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H2S DOESNT USUALLY GIVE ANY VISUAL WARNIN G OF ITS PRESENCE SINCE IT IS COLORLESS GAS. AT LOW CONCENTRATIONS H2S HAS AN OFFENSIVE,PUNGENT ODOUR SIMILAR TO ROTTEN EGGS.YOU MAY RECOGNISE THE SMELL SOMETHING YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED BEFORE, BECAUSE THERE CAN BE AS MUCH AS 14PPM H2S IN HUMAN INTESTINAL GAS. AT SLIGHTLY HIGH ER CONCENTRATIONS H2S MAY HAVE A SWEET OR METALLIC ODOUR.AT CONCENTRATIONS ABOVE 100PPM,H2S DEADEN THE OLFACTORY NERVES AND HAS NO ODOUR AT ALL.THIS IS WHY INSTRUMENTATION MUST BE USED TO DETECT H2S INSTEAD OF THE SENSE OF SMELL.H2S IS ALSO DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT IS VERY FLAMMABLE AND HIGH CONCENTRATIONS CAN RESULT IN EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES. y y y THE MINIMUM CONCENTRATION THAT WILL BURN IS 4.3% OR 43000PPM. THE MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION THAT WILL BURN IS 46% OR 460000PPM. THE TEMPERATURE THAT WILL CAUSE THE GAS TO SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITE IS 518 0F.

WHEN H2S BURNS ,IT BURN WITH A BLUE FLAME AND FORM SULFUR DIOXIDE ,A TOXIC AND EXTREMELY IRRITATING GAS.UNLIKE H2S,SULFUR DIOXIDE HAS EXCELLENT WARNING PROPERTIES,IT SM ELLS LIKE BURNT MATCHES AND IT IS INTENSELY IRRITATING AT LOW CONCENTRATIONS AND IT NEVER DEADENS YOUR SENSE OF SMELL. ANOTHER REASON H2S IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IS THAT IT IS 19% HEAVIER THAN AIR, AT SAME TEMPERATURE,CAUSING H2S TO SETTLE AND ACCUMULATE IN LOW LYING AREAS.THIS IS ESPECIALLY LIKELY TO OCCUR DURING PERIODS OF CALM,COOL,FOGGY WEATHER.THE FACT THAT H2S IS CORROSIVE TO METALS,SUCH AS IRON,COPPER AND SILVER,ALSO PRESENTS A CHALLENGE.SINCE THE STEEL IN DRILLING,PRODUCTION AND REFINING EQUIPMENT IS PRIMARILY COMPRISED OF IRON,CORROSION CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL AND SAFETY PROBLEMS.H2SVREACTING WITH STEEL MAY FORM IRON SULFIDE OR IRON PYRITE SCALE.WHEN EXPOSED TO ACID,BOTH THESE SCALES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BREAKDOWN AND RELEASE RELATIVELY LARGE VOLUMES OF H2S. AN ADDITIONAL HAZARD POSED BY IRON SULFIDE IS THAT WHEN EXPOSED TO AIR ,IT MAY SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITE,RELEASING SULFUR DIOXIDE AS IT BURNS.AS H2S REACTS TO FORM THESE SCALES,ATOMIC HYDROGEN IS RELEASED WHICH MAY PENETRATE THE STEEL AND CAUSE SULFIDE STRESS CRACKING.ONCE INSIDE ,THE ATOMIC HYDROGEN DIFFUSES TO TRAP SITES,WHERE IT CAUSES A LOCAL INCREASE IN STRESS IN THE METAL LATTICE.THE STRESS ULTIMATELY LEADS TO A BRITTLE FRACTURE OF THE MATERIAL. THIS TYPE OF CRACKING USUALLY OCCURS RAPIDLY,WITHOUT WARNING ,AND CAN RESUL T IN CATASTROPHIC EQUIPMENT FAILURE . USNING SPECIAL ALLOYS AND CHEMICAL TREATMENTS CAN HELP CONTROL THE CORROSION PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH H2S WORKING SAFELY WITH H2S NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF H2S,YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM IT.H2S OCCURS IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS WITHIN THE UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM PHASES OF THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY;HOWEVER,THE BASIC PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY TO WORK SAFELY AROUND H2S ARE THE SAME, REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT IS ENCOUNTERED.SAFEL Y WORKING AROUND H2S REQUIRES SIX ACTION STEPS: y y y y y y A CONTINGENCY PLAN ENGINEERING CONTROLS PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT GAS DETECTION EQUIPMENT SAFE WORKING PRACTICES A RESCUE PLAN

CONTINGENCY PLANS A H2S CONTINGENCY PLAN IS A DOCUMENT THAT CONSISTS OF A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH AN OPEARTION AND THE METHODS REQUIRED TO REDUCE THE HAZARDS TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVELS.A CONTINGENCY PLAN DESCRIBES THE:

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y y y y ENGINEERING CONTROLS PPE WORK PRACTICES ERP(EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES )

NECESSARY TO WORK SAFELY. IF YOU ARE EXPECTED TO WORK ON H2S LOCATION,YOU MUST ATTEND A SITE -SPECIFIC ORIENTATION DESIGNED TO FAMILIARIZE YOU AND YOUR CO-WORKERS WITH THE CONTINGENCY PLAN THAT IS IN EFFECT.ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS FOUND IN THE CONTINGENCY PLAN IS ,A DISCUSSION OF HOW WORKIERS SHOULD RESPOND WHEN AN UNEXPECTED RELEASE OF H2S ID DETECTED.THESE MAY DIFFER RADICALLY FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION AND MAY INCLUDE SUCH EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES AS WELL- CONTROL,BLOWOUT IGNITION,EVACUATION PLANS AND OFFSHORE RIG DEBOARDING PROCEDURES. THE CONTINGENCY PLAN MUST IDENTIFY WHAT ESSENTIAL AND NON -ESSENTIAL WORKERS DO AT VARIOUS ALARM POINTS ON THE GAS DETECTION SYSTEM . ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL ARE WORKERS WHO MUST REMAIN IN OPERATIONAL AREAS TO HELP CONTROL THE EMERGENCY SITUATION.FOR A LOW CONCENTRATION ALARM,ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL LOCATE A SCBA AND MOVE TO THEIR DUTY STATION.THE SCBA DOESNT HAVE TO BE DONNED.FOR A HIGH CONCENTRATION ALARM,ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL MUST PROTECT THEMSELVES BY: y y y y REMAINING CALM AND NOT PANIC KING IMMEDIATELY HOLD YOUR BREATH AND DON SCBA ENSURING ITS PROPER OPERATION HELP ANY OTHER PERSONS IN DISTRESS PERFORM YOUR DESIGNATED EMERGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES

NON ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL RESPOND TO ALARMS IN THE SAME MANNER AS ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL,EXCEPT THAT NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNELS REPORT TO THE DESIGNATED UPWIND SAFE BRIEFING AREA AND AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.SCBAS DO NOT HAVE TO BE DONNED FOR LOW ALARMS. ENGINEERING CONTROLS ENGINEERING CONTROLS ARE FEATURES INCORPORATED INTO EQUIPMENT OR SYSTEM TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE HAZARDS.CONTAINMENT IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY ENGINNERING CONTROLS USED TO PROTECT PERSONNEL FROM EXPOSURE TO H2S.THIS TECHNIQUE INVOLVES PREVENTING THE GAS FROM BEING PRESENT IN THE BREATHING ZONE OF WORKERS BY CONTAINING IT WITHIN A CLOSE D PIPING SYSTEM.VENTILLATION IS ANOTHER ENGINEERING CONTROL THAT IS USED TO PROTECT WORKERS.WITH EVEN A LIGHT BREEZE BLOWING , NATURAL VENTILLATION CAN GREATLY REDUCE THE CONCENTRATION OF TOXIC GAS IN THE ENVIRONMENT.WHERE SMALL VOLUMES OF GAS MAY BE RELEASED,FANS ARE OFTEN EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING ATMOSPHERIC CONCENTRATIONS TO SAFE LEVELS. BECAUSE H2S TENDS TO MOVE WITH THE WIND,IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TO STAY UPWIND OF ANY POTENTIAL POINTS OF RELEASE WHEN WORKING WITHOUT RESPIRATORY PROTECTION . PPE OFTEN ENGINNERING CONTROLS CANNOT BE USED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ECONOMICALLY OR TECHNOLOGICALLY FEASIBLE.PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS FREQUENTLY USED WHEN ENGINNERING CONTROLS ARE NOT A VIABLE OPTION.THE PPE MOST FREQUENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH H2S OPERATION S IS THE SLEF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT PERSONNEL IN WORK ENVIRONMENTS WHERE MORE THAN 10PPM H2S IS PRESENT. BECAUSE OF THE POOR WARNING CHARACTERSITICS,THE ONLY FOR M OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION THAT IS ACCEPTABLE WHEN H2S IS PRESENT IS THE SCBA.ITS A RESPIRATOR THAT INCORPORATES AN AIR CYLINDER WORN ON THE USERS BODY-THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE PRIMARY AIR SUPPLY. THE AIR USED IN SCBAS MUST BE HIGHLY PURIFIED BREATHING AIR,WHICH IS COMPRESSED GAS ASSOCIA TION GRADE-D OR BETTER.THREE MAIN TYPES OF SCBAs USED IN AREAS WHERE H2S MAY BE PRESENT ARE THE : y ESCAPE UNIT

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y y HOSELINE WORK UNIT,ALSO KNOWN AS A TYPE C UNIT WORK/RESCUE UNIT

THE ESCAPE UNIT IS A COMPACT LIGHT WEIGHT SCBAPROVIDED TO WORKERS WHO REGULARLY WORK IN AREAS WHERE H2S LEAKS MIGHT OCCUR.UNITS ARE DONNED WHEN WORKER BECOMES AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS CONCENTRATION OF H2S AND DECIDES TO LEAVE THE AREA.ALTHOUGH CYLINDER CAPACITY VARY,THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF ESCAPE UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH A CYLI NDER THAT PROVIDES 5MINUTES OF BREATHING TIME. BECAUSE OF THE SMALL AMOUNT OF BREATHING TIME AVAILABLE ,THESE UNITS HAVE ONLY ONE ACCEPTABLE USE ESCAPE.YOU SHOULD NEVER ATTEMPT TO WORK OR PERFORM A RESCUE WHILE WEARING AN ESCAPE UNIT. THE HOSELINE WORK UNIT IS ANOTHER TYPE OF SCBA PROVIDED TO WORKERS WHO MUST WORK FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME IN AREAS WHERE H2S IS PRESENT.THE DISTINGUISHING FEATURE OF THESE RESPIRATORS IS THAT THEY ALLOW THE WEARER TO ACCESS TWO AIR SUPPLIES. y y THE PRIMARY AIR SUPPLY IS DELI VERED BY HOSELINE,FROM A CASCADE OF HIGH CAPACITY BREATHING AIR CYLINDER OR REMOTE BREATHING AIR COMPRESSOR. THE SECONDARY AIR SUPPLY IS CONTAINED IN A CYLINDER WORN ON THE RESPITOR USER BODY.

IF THE SECONDARY AIR SUPPLY HAS A NOMINALDURATION LESS THAN 15 MINUTES,THE RESPIRATOR BECOMES AN ESCAPE UNIT WHEN WEARER IS BREATHING FROM THE CYLINDER WORN ON THE BODY.THE 30 MINUTE WORK/RESCUE UNIT IS AN SCBA PROVIDED TO WORKERS WHO MUST RESCUE OR WORK IN AREAS WHERE THE ATTACHMENT TO A REMOTE AIR SUPPLY IS NOT POSSIBLE.A PERSON WEARING A 30MIN WORK.RESCUE SCBA IS UNLIKELY TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO WORK FOR 30MIN,BECAUSE THE NORMAL TIME IS BASED ON IDEAL CONDITIONS. A TYPICAL PERSON WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO BREATH OFF OF A 30MIN WORK/RESCUE SCBA FOR A LITTLE OVER TWENTY MINUTES. A LOW ALARM SOUNDS ON THESE UNITS AT 25% OF CYLINDER CAPACITY.WHEN THIS HAPPENS,THE RESPIRATOR WEARER MUST LEAVE THE HAZARDOUS AREA IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU ARE EXPECTED TO WEAR SCBA ,OSHA AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY STANDARDS,REQUIRES THAT YOUR EMPLOYER ASSURES YOU ARE CAPABLE OF WEARING IT SAFELY. YOU MUST B E MEDICALLY EVALUATED,FIT TESTED,AND TRAINED BEFORE YOU ARE ALLOWED TO WEAR A RESPIRATOR IN A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERE. YOU MUST BECOME THOROUGHLY FAMILIAR WITH THE INSPECTION,DONN ING AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR EACH MODEL OF SCBA YOU ARE EXPECTED TO USE.IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT EMPLOYEES HOLD PERIODIC DRILLS UTILIZING BREATHING EQUIPMENT.THESE DRILLS SHOULD BE INITIATED BY ACTUATING THE H2S ALARM WHERE UPON ALL PERSONNEL SHOULD DONN T HE APPROPRIATE BREATHING EQUIPMENT,PROCEED TO ASSIGNED PROTECTION AREAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES,AND AWAIT INSTRUCTIONS.ESSENTIAL WORKERS SHOULD THEN PERFORM A SHORT PERIOD OF ROUTINE WORK IN THE BREATHING EQUIPMENT.AFTER THE DRILL ,SCBA CYLINDERS SHALL BE REFILLED,INSPECTED AND MADE READY FOR IMMEDIATE USE UNDER EMERGENCY CONDITIONS. DETECTION BECAUSE RELATIVELY LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF H2S QUICKLY DDEADEN THE SENSE OF SMELL,PORTABLE GAS EQUIPMENT IS OFTEN NECESSARY TO DETERMINE WHEN SCBAs ARE NECESSARY.THREE TYPES OF GAS DETECTION EQUIPMENTS ARE COMMONLY USED TO DETECT H2S: y y y LEAD ACETATE TAPES COLORMETRIC TUBES ELECTRONIC DETECTORS

LEAD ACETATE TAPES REVEAL THE PRESENCE OF H2S BY THE INDICATOR WINDOWB CHANGING FROM WHITE TO BROWN.SINCE THESE UNITS DO NOT HAVE ALARMS,THE INDICATOR WINDOW MUST BE CHECKED FREQUENTLY WHEN APPROACHING AREAS WHERE H2S MIGHT BE PRESENT. DO NOT RELY ON THESE DEVICES AS YOUR S OLE MEANS OF DETECTION,SINCE YOU COULD BE WORKING IN A HIGH CONCENTRATION FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE YOU BECOME AWARE OF THE WARNING DISPLAYED IN THE INDICATOR WINDOW.

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COLORMETRIC TUBE INSTRUMENTS ARE USED TO MEASURE H2S CONCENTRATIONS.THEY ARE USED TO DETERM INE APPROXIMATE AIRBORNE CONCENTRATIONS ONCE THE PRESENCE OF H2S IS SUSPECTED.THEY INDICATE THE CONCENTRATION OF H2S BY CHANGING COLOR AS A BROWNING STAIN ALONG THE BODY OF THE TUBE IN PROPORTION TO THE AMOUNT OF H2S PRESENT.THE LENGTH OF STAIN IS COMPARED TO A SCALE ON THE SIDE OF THE TUBE TO DETERMINE THE CONCENTRATION ELECTRONIC GAS DETECTORS ARE DESIGNED TO WARN WORKERS OF THE PRESENCE OF H2S BY AUTOMATICALLY SOUNDING AN ALARM.THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT MODELS OF ELECTRONIC H2S DETECTORS AVAILABLE,HOWEVER THEY CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO BASIC TYPES: A)PORTABLE B) FIXED UNITS . PORTABLE UNITS ARE , INTENDED FOR AREAS WHERE FIXED UNITS ARE NOT AVAILABLE OR DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE COVERAGE,WORN ON THE BODY OF THE WORKER AND THEY SOUND ALARM AT A PREDETERMINED CONCENTRATIONS,MOST OFTEN 10PPM.ONCE ALARM SOUNDS,THE WORKER KNOWS TO EITHER DONN SCBA OR LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY. FIXED UNITS ARE OFTEN REFFERED TO AS H2S MONITORS AND GIVE WARNING OF H2S IN A PARTICULAR AREA ON AN AROUND THE CLOCK BASIS.THESE WARNINGS ALLOW PERSONNEL TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.THESE UNITS CONSISTS OF A CONTROLLER,SEMI-CONDUCTOR BASED REMOTE SENSORS,AND REMOTE ALARMS,WHICH INCLUDE LIGHTS AND SIRENS.THE CONTROLLER INTERPRETS SIGNALS SENT BY THE SENSORS ARRAY AND ACTIVATES THE ALARMS AT PREDETERMINED CONCENTRATIONS.SENSORS ARE USUALLY LOCATED IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS HIGH POTENTIAL FOR A RELEASE,AREAS WHERE H2S IS LIKELY TO ACCUMULATE,AND IN AREAS WHERE WORKERS ARE FREQUENTLY PRESENT.DEPENDING UPON THE NATURE OF THE FACILITY ,THE NUMBER OF SENSORS NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY MONITOR A LOCATION MAY RANGE FROM JUST A HANDFULL TO HUNDREDS.THE REMOTE ALARMS ACTIVATED BY THE CONTROLLER USUALLY CONSISTS OF LIGHT AND SIRENS.THESE ARE LOCATED NEAR POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS AREAS AND IN AREAS WHERE PEOPLE ARE FREQUENTLY PRESENT.THE ARRANGEMENT OF LIGHT AND SIREN SETS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED ALARM POINTS VARIES SOMEWHAT FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION.THE ARRANGEMENT ON PARTICULAR LOCATION IS PRIMARILY DETERMINED BY THE REGULATORY STANDARDS THAT GOVERN THE FACILITY. SINCE THE LIGHT AND SIREN SETS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED ALARM POINTS DO VARY,IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ATTEND A SITE SPECIFIC SAFETY ORIENTATION,WHICH PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE CONTINGENCY PLAN PRIOR TO WORKING ON AN H2S LOCATION.THE SITE -SPECIFIC ORIENTATION WILL INCLUDE: y y y y y y THE LOCATION AND USE OF PP E,BREATHING DEVICES. PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. OTHER EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEM. EMERGENCY EXIT LOCATIONS. DESIGNATED PROTECTION CENTERS OR MUSTER POINTS. CURRENT PREVAILING WIND DIRECTION.

BOTH PORTABLE AND FIXED ELECTRONIC H2S DETECTORS MUST BE PROPERLY MAINTAINED IN ORDER TO ASSURE ACCURATE READINGS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THESE INSTRUMENTS BE REGULARLY MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS . CALIBRATED ACCORDING TO THE

ALTHOUGH EQUIPMENTS SUCH AS RESPIRATOR AND GAS DETECTORS GREATLY REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPOSURE TO H2S,THEY ARE ONLY EFFECTIVE WHEN USED WITH SAFE WORK PRACTICES. SAFE WORK PRACTICES SAFE WORK PRACTICES ARE DOCUMENTED ,STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES THAT ARE DEVE LOPED SO THAT POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS TASKS CAN BE PERFORMED SAFELY.THERE ARE MANY PRECAUTIONS CONCERNING H2S OPERATIONS THAT APPLY NO MATTER WHICH INDUSTRY YOU WORK IN.ANYTIME WORKERS ARE IN A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS AREA,THE BUDDY SYSTEM SHOULD BE USED.THE B UDDY SYSTEM INVOLVES ASSIGNING SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ANY WORKER WHO MUST ENTER AN AREA WHERE TOXIC GAS IS POTENTIALLY PRESENT.IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY THE BUDDY CAN IMMEDIATELY SUMMON HELP.ANOTHER PRECAUTION IS TO ALWAYS WORK UPWIND OF AREAS OR EQUIPMENT WHERE H2S MAY BE RELEASED.SINCE H2S TENDS TO MOVE WITH THE WIND,AN UPWIND LOCATION IS WHERE THERE IS THE LEAST POTENTIAL FOR EXPOSER. ANYONE WHO WORKS AT AN H2S FACILITY SHOULD CONSTANTLY BE AWARE OF THE WIND DIRECTION.

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7 H2S SAFET HANDBOOK BY K.L.N.RAO

THIS IS GREATLY FACILITATED BY FLAGS AND WINDSOCKS PLACED IN HIGHLY VISIBLE LOCATIONS.IT IS ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO AVAOID CREATING A SPARK IN AREAS WHERE H2S IS PRESENT.THE VERY LOW AUTOIGNITION TEMPERATURE AND WIDE FLAMMABLE RANGE OF H2S MEANS IT IS VERY EASILY IGNITED .ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTS SHOULD EITHER BE INTRINSICALLY SAFE OR EXPLOSION PROOF.IN AREAS WHERE ATMOSPHERIC CONCENTRATIONS OF H2S ARE KNOWN TO BE GREATER THAN 10% OF THE LFL(LEL),HANDTOOLS SHOULD ALSO BE MADE NON SPARKING MATERIALS,SUCH AS BRASS OR COPPER -BERYLLIUM ALLOY. EMERGENCY RESPONSE IF EFFECTIVE USE IS MADE OF CONTINGENCY PLANS,ENGINEERING CONTROLS,PPE,GAS DETECTION EQUIPMENTS,AND SAFE WORK PRACTICES,WORKERS SHOULD NOT BE EXPOSED TO HARMFUL CONCENTRATION OF H2S.HOWEVER FAILURE TO MAKE EFFECTIVE USE OF THESE MEASURES CAN HAVE DISASTROUS RESULTS.IN ORDER TO HAVE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESSFUL RESCUE,AN EMERGENCY PLAN MUST BE IN PLACE.THE EMERGENCY PLAN SHOULD ASSURE THAT: y y y y AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF 30MIN SCBA WORK/RESCUE ARE AVAILABLE. EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING I S CONDUCTED. THE BUDDY SYSTEM IS USED. PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE.

A WELL THOUGHT OUT EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN IS NECESSARY BECAUSE AN IMPROPERLY EXECUTED RESCUE ATTEMPT IS ALMOST OFTEN FATAL TO THE RESCUER. BEFORE ATTEMPTING A RESCUE,SOUND THE ALARM SO THAT OTHER WORKERS ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION.ONCE THIS IS DONE,PROTECT YOURSELF BEFORE APPROACHING THE VICTIM BY DONNING 30MIN WORK/RESCUE SCBA.REMOVE THE VICTIM TO FRESH AIR,ASAP,BEGIN ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION BY MOUTH TO MOUTH OR OXYGEN RESUSCITATOR.THE LATTER IS THE PREFERRED METHOD SINCE IT REDUCES THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPOSURE TO BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS AND DELIVERS 100%OXYGEN TO VICTIM.SPECIAL TRAINING IS REQUIRED TO USE OXYGEN RESUSCITATOR.IF NO PULSE IS DETECTED AFTER ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION IS INITIATED,CPR MUST BE ADMINISTERED IMMEDIATELY-NEVER PERFORM CHEST COMPRESSIONS IF THE VICTIM HAS A PULSE.IF YOU BEGIN ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION WITHIN THREE MINUTES AFTER THE VISTIM IS OVERCOME,THEY SHOULD HAVE A PULSE AND T HE CHANCES ARE VERY GOOD THEY WILL FULLY RECOVER FROM THE EXPOSURE.THE LONGER THE RESCUE TAKES,THE GREATER THE CHANCES THE VICTIM WILL SUFFER PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE OR DEATH.WHEN ,A VICTIM OF H2S POISIONING REGAINS CONSCIOUSNESS THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE VERY NAUSEOUS,IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO ASSIST THEM IN MAINTAINING THEIR AIRWAY FREE OF VOMIT. ANYONE WHO LOOSES CONSCIOUSNESS OR EXPERIENCES PROLONGED IRRITATION AS A RESULT OF H2S SHOULD BE EVALUATED BY A PHYSICIAN IN ORDER TO DETECT AND TREAT ANY DELAYED HEALTH PROBLEMS,SUCH AS PULMONARY EDEMA. CONCLUSION IN MOST CASES IT IS NOT A HAZARDOUS WELL OR PLANT OPERATION THAT LEADS TO H2S EXPOSURE AND WORKER DEATH.THESE DANGEROUS PROCEDURES WHICH RESULT IN HIGH RELEASE OF H2S ARE USUALLY ANTICIPATED AND CONTINGENCY PLANS ARE WELL LAID OUT.MANY MORE DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED DURING ROUTINE UNPLANNED TASKS SUCH AS TANK CHECKING,ENTERING AND CLEANING.OTHER HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS INCLUDE PRELOAD TANKS,SPUD CANS,AND COLUMNS ON SEMIS OR SUBMERSIBLE RIGS. NO MATTER WHAT THE LOCATIO N ANTICIPATED A HAZARDOUS H2S ENVIRONMENT AND PLAN FOR IT . H2S IS A VERY SERIOUS HAZARD,WHICH REQUIRE RIGOROUS TRAINING ,PERIODIC DRILLS,PRE PLANNING,AND SPECIAL WORK PRECAUTIONS.IF YOU USE THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PROGRAMME AND CAREFULLY FOLLOW Y OUR COMPANYS SAFETY REQUIREMENTS,YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THE ASSOCIATED HAZARDS OF H2S AND ENJOY A LONG ,SAFE CAREER IN THE OIL AND PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES.

H2S SAFETY HANDBOOK BY K.L.N.RAO 8/12/2011 10:15:28 PM