Oxygen can kill!

Byshashi kallada
DEC 25, 2011 Oxygen depleted atmosphere, Oxygen enriched atmosphere

Oxygen can kill! Do you see this as a strange statement?

We know without oxygen we cannot live. When we go up to higher altitudes, climbing a

mountain, with less pressure we feel altitude sickness which is due to slight deficiency in
oxygen. Need not mention how long we can hold our breath. No oxygen means death!
But more oxygen is also dangerous. In shipping there are two terms related to dangers of oxygen.
They are

 1. Oxygen depleted atmosphere

 2. Oxygen enriched atmosphere

We will look at both scenarios, more oxygen and less oxygen, and find out dangers involved in
shipping.

Oxygen Depleted Atmosphere

Earth’s atmosphere contains approximately 21% of oxygen if this percentage

goes up or down then we are in a dangerous situation. First let us look at
reduction of oxygen in shipping containers.

There are many cargoes which can cause depletion of oxygen, corroding
scrap metals can deplete oxygen in a closed container or cargo hold. Oil
Seeds, Copra, Fishmeal, Dry Ice, Charcoal etc. causes serious depletion in
oxygen level.

Any atmosphere which has less than 19.5% oxygen is oxygen depleted
atmosphere however one shall not enter any place where oxygen level is
less than 20.8%!!

We have heard or read in news prints many cases involving workers dying in
sewage or any enclosed spaces. In some cases co-workers go in to rescue
those fallen without realizing the danger or low oxygen or presence of toxic
or flammable atmosphere and fall victim themselves.

In shipping International Maritime Organization has

issued Recommendations for Entering Enclosed Spaces Aboard Ships.

Effects of Oxygen levels

 Level Effect

22 % Oxygen enriched atmosphere

20.8% Normal level

19.5% Oxygen deficient atmosphere

16% Impaired judgement and breathing

14% Rapid fatigue and faulty judgement

11% Difficult breathing and death in a few minutes

Oxygen Enriched atmosphere

Oxygen enrichment can be caused by various sources like, leaking oxygen

cylinders, chemical reactions, inadvertent or accidental activation of oxygen
generators carried as cargo etc. If the atmosphere is enriched with oxygen
combustible materials can catch fire more easily and will burn more
vigorously. Oxygen seriously reacts with grease. Even while operating the
valves or regulators of oxygen cylinders never wear gloves contaminated
with oil or grease or by hands contaminated with oil or grease, if there is a
leak from cylinder you will end up having serious injuries.

A VITAS patient describes what happened when he lit a cigarette with his oxygen cannula on

Oxygen enriched or depleted or containers having toxic or flammable

atmosphere are too dangerous to enter and have resulted in fatalities in the
past.

Section 7.3.6.1 of IMDG Code warns the possibility of an unsafe

concentration of toxic or flammable vapours or an oxygen-enriched or -
depleted atmosphere in containers.
There are many Dos and Donts about oxygen we must adopt the appropriate
safety measures in our work place taking inputs from International and
National regulations and recommendations.