Seven-Step Initial Response Strategy

1. Evacuate • Gettoasafeareaimmediately• Moveupwindifrelease isdownwindofyou• Movecrosswindif releaseisupwind ofyou• Movetohigher groundifpossible

2. Alarm • Callforhelp (“Mandown”),sound bell,horn,whistleor callbyradio

3. Assess • Doaheadcount• Considerother hazards

4. Protect • Putonbreathing apparatusbefore attemptingrescue

5. Rescue • Removevictimtoa safearea

6. Revive • ApplyCPR ifnecessary

7. Medical Aid

• Arrangetransportofvictimto medicalaid• ProvideinformationtoEmergency MedicalServices(EMS)

AdaptedfromEnform’s“H2SAlive”Course

1 2

INTRODUCTIONThepurposeofthisbookletistoalertemployersandworkerstothedangersinvolvedinworkingwithH2Sandtoprovideguidanceforcontrollingthesedangers.

Hydrogen sulphide gasisoneofthemostdeadlyoccupationalhazardsinAlberta.Itgoesbymanynames:H2S,sourgas,sewergas,stinkdamp,andsulfurettedhydrogen.

AstheindustrywiththelargestsourcesofH2S,workersintheoilandgasindustrymustbeawareofitsdeadlyproperties.However,sewermaintenancecrews,blasters,minersandemergencyrespondersmustalsolearntorespectandworksafelyaroundthisgas.

EmployersmustensurethatworkerswhomaybeexposedtoH2Sgasareabletorecognizeitslethaleffects.ProceduresmustbeinplaceforactivitieswhereH2Smaybepresentaswellastoensurethatvictimswhoareovercomearerescuedandgivenfirstaid.

BE ALERT! TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION

SOME PLACES WHERE H2S IS FOUND

Gas Plants, Refineries, Petro-Chemical Plants, Sulfur Recovery Plants

Underground Mines

Tank Cars, Tank Trucks

Oil & Gas Wells, Battery Stations

Commercial Laboratories

Septic Tanks, Sewers, Manure Handling Areas

Pulp & Paper Mills

Pipelines

3 4

PROPERTIES OF H2S

Colour ColourlessOdour Veryoffensive,commonly

referredtoasodourofrotteneggsatlowconcentrations,noodourathighconcentrations,1.188at25oC

Vapour density 1.189(Air=1.0)H2Sinitspureformisheavierthanair

Explosive limits 4.3to46.0percentbyvolumeinair

Auto ignition temperature

260oC

Flammability Formsexplosivemixturewithairoroxygen

Water Solubility 2.9percent(2.9g/100mLwaterat20oC)

Reactivity Canreactwithirontoproduceironsulfidewhichwilligniteinthepresenceofairunlessitiskeptwet(foundasabrown/blackdepositinvessels,tanks,pipes,fittingsandexchangebundles).

HEALTH EFFECTS OF H2S

1 ppm Canbesmelled.10 ppm Alberta’sOccupationalExposure

Limit(OEL).Allowablefor8hoursofexposure

15 ppm Alberta’sCeilingOEL.Anunprotectedworkermaynotbeexposedabovethisconcentration.

20-50 ppm Severeeyeirritation.Nose,throatandlungirritation.

Lossofappetite.100-200 ppm Severenose,throatandlung

irritation.

Abilitytosmellodourcompletelydisappears(150ppm)

500 ppm Severelungirritation.Headaches,dizziness,staggering,collapse.

500-1000 ppm Respiratoryparalysis.Irregularheartbeat,collapseordeath.

ppm = Parts of gas per million parts of air by volume.

1% = 10,000 ppm

5 6

Severeirritation of eyes and breathing passages

<1 20–100 100–250 250–500 500–750 >750

ODOUR IRRITANCY IMPAIRMENT OF NERVOUS SYSTEM

Concentration of H2S in Air (ppm)

Effe

ct

10Alberta’s 8-hour OEL

Distinctive “rotten-egg”

odour

Severe irritation of eyes and breathing passages,

cough, headache,

nausea, loss of sense of

smell

Difficulty breathing,

fluid in lungs, vomiting, dizziness,

loss of coordination

Stumbling, staggering, collapse or

“knockdown”, loss of

coordination

Death within moments to minutes due

to respiratory paralysis

EFFECTS OF H2S EXPOSURE

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DETECTION OF H2SHydrogen Sulphideinlowconcentrationsiseasilyrecognizablebyitscharacteristicfoulodoursimilartorotteneggs.However,continuedexposureorexposuretoconcentrationsover100ppmtemporarilyeliminatesaperson’sabilitytosmellthegas.Theeffectusuallymisleadstheworkerintothinkingthedangerhaspassed;oftenwithtragicresults.

TheacuteeffectsofH2Sonthebodyaretwofold.H2Sactsasanirritanttoeyes,nose,throatandlungs,anditactsasaninternalpoisoncausingunconsciousnessbyparalysisoftherespiratorysystem.

TodeterminethepresenceofH2Sinyourworkarea,oneofthefollowingmeansofdetectionshouldbeused:

Continuous Monitors Inlargerplants,asystemisusedwherepotentially hazardousareasaresampledbystrategically locatedsensors.Analarmsystemisactivatedby

WARNINGYou cannot rely on your nose to tell you

how much H2S is present! Wear your respiratory protection.

anysensorandgivesawarningwhentheH2S concentrationrisesabovepresetlimits.

Personal Monitors BatterypoweredH2Smonitorscanbecarried orwornbyindividualworkerstoindicatethe concentrationofH2Stowhichtheyarebeing exposed.

Portable Monitors Portablemonitorsareinstrumentsthatcanbe carriedtotheworksiteandmovedwithworkers. Itisimportantthatyoufamiliarizeyourselfwith thedetectionequipmentusedatyourworksite. Learnitsproperoperation.Maintainandoperate itaccordingtothemanufacturer’sinstructions. YOURLIFEMAYDEPENDONIT.

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PERSONAL PROTECTIONWhenyouareinanareawhereH2Sisapotentialhazard,youmustwearapprovedpersonalprotectiveandrespiratoryprotectiveequipmentasrequiredbyAlberta’sOccupationalHealthandSafety (OHS)Code.

Theemployermust:

ensurethatprotectiveequipmentdoesnotitself createahazardtoworkers

selectrespiratoryprotectiveequipmentin accordancewithCSAStandardZ94.4-02, Selection, Use and Care of Respirators

prepareawrittencodeofpracticeregarding theselection,maintenanceanduseofrespiratory protectiveequipment

ensurethatallrespiratoryequipmentused isapprovedbyNIOSHoranotherorganization approvedbyaDirectorofOccupationalHygiene

ensurethatrespiratoryprotectiveequipmentis storedandmaintainedproperly

fittestequipmentinaccordancewithCSA StandardZ94.4-02,Selection, Use and Care of Respirators

ensurethatworkersarecleanshavenwhere thefacepieceoftherespiratorsealstotheskin oftheface

ifconditionsattheworksitemaybecome immediatelydangeroustolifeorhealth,workers mustwearpositivepressureself-contained breathingapparatusthatmeetstherequirementsin theOHSCode.

provideotherpersonalprotectiveequipment appropriatetothehazardsworkersmaybe exposedto(suchassafetyeyewearor protectiveclothing)

TWO COMMON TYPES OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION FOR H2SSelf-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

Thistypeofapparatussuppliescompressedairfromacylinderwornonthebacktoafullfacepiece.Thisapparatusmustbeofthetypethatmaintainspositivepressureinthefacepiece.

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Thecylindermustberatedtosupplyairforatleast30minutes.

Heavyphysicalworkwillconsumeavailableairmorequickly.

Allself-containedbreathingapparatusmustbeequippedwithanalarmtowarnwhentheairpressureislow.

Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus (SABA)

Thisapparatussuppliesrespirableairfromcylinders,oracompressorinaremotelocation,viaahosetoafullfacepiece.Thisapparatusmustbeofatypethatmaintainspositivepressureinthefacepiece.

Anemergencyescapebottlemustbewornwiththistypeofequipmentincaseofaninterruptionofsuppliedair.

TheemergencyescapebottleisforescapepurposesonlyandmustneverbeusedalonetocarryoutworkinanH2Senvironment.

NOTE: To prevent inward leaks of contaminated air, the worker must be clean shaven here the facepiece contacts the skin of the face.

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SPECIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATORY REQUIREMENTSThefirstconcerninanyareacontaminatedwithH2Sistheprotectionofthelifeandhealthoftheworker.TherearecertainjobswhichcauseH2Stobereleasedintotheair.Whenworkinginsideequipmentsuchasvesselsortanks,workersmustbeprotectedbyrespiratoryprotectiveequipmentandpracticesafeworkprocedures.

Additionalhealthandsafetyrequirementsinclude:

Theemployermustconductahazardassessment fortheirworksite(s).Workersmustbeinvolvedin thisprocess.

Theemployermusttakestepstoeliminateor controlthehazardfromH2S.

Therearespecificrequirementsforworkthat involvesentryintoaconfinedspaceor restrictedspace.

SinceH2Sisaflammablegas,requirementsin part10oftheOHSCodeapply.

Iftheworkshiftislongerthan8hours,theOEL forH2Smustbeadjusted,usingtheformulain Part4oftheOHSCode.

13 14

Awrittencodeofpracticeisrequiredforwork siteswherethereismorethan10kgofH2S presentasapuresubstance,orthereisamixture inwhichthereismorethan10kgofH2Sandthe concentrationofH2Sismorethan0.1percent byweight.

Ifaworkerisworkingaloneataworksiteor assistanceisnotreadilyavailableshouldaworker beinjuredorill,theemployermustensurethatan effectivecommunicationsystemisinplace.

WorkersmustbeprovidedwithWorkplace HazardousMaterialInformationSystem(WHMIS) trainingwheretheyusecontrolledproductsattheir worksite.

RESCUE AND FIRST AIDALWAYS PUT ON RESPIRATORY PROTECTION BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY RESCUE.

YOU COULD BECOME A VICTIM!

ItisVITALLYIMPORTANTthateveryoneworkingaroundornearH2Sknowtheprocedurestofollowincaseofanemergency:

Workersmustbeprovidedwithspecifictraining onH2ShazardswheretheymaybeexposedtoH2S attheworksite.

TheOHSCoderequiresthatpersonnelbetrained infirstaid.TraininginC.P.R.(cardiopulmonary resuscitation)isanessentialcomponentofa worker’sknowledgeandskillsinfirstaid.

Whenworkersuserespiratoryprotectiveequipment forrescue,theymustbeawareofitslimitations.

Regularpracticeandtraininginrescueare necessarytoprovideappropriaterescuecapability attheworksite.

TheOHSCodespecifiesrequirementsfor emergencypreparednessandresponse.Workers whoareresponsibleforemergencyresponseand rescuewillrequireadditionaltrainingand equipment.

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EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITYTheemployerhaskeyresponsibilitiesforinjuryandincidentprevention:

Knowandinformworkersaboutthecompany policyonH2S.

Includesafeworkproceduresininstructionswhen teachingjobmethods.

Identifyunsafeconditionsandactions.

TakeIMMEDIATEandappropriateactionwhen H2Sissuspectedordetected.

Providetrainingforworkersforworkin environmentswhereH2Smaybepresent.Aworker musteitherbecompetentordirectlysupervisedby acompetentworker.

Conductsessionstoinformworkersofthe“Code ofPractice”andworkproceduresthatareusedon yourworksitepriortobeginningwork.

Ensurethatworkersafetymeetingsareheld. Theseshouldbeusedforinstruction,reviewor discussionofunsafeconditionsoractions whichhavebeenobserved.Workersshouldbe encouragedtotakeanactivepartinthese meetings.Theirconstructivesuggestionshelp keepsafeworkpracticesuptodate.

Ensureworkershaveappropriatefirstaidtraining.

Ensurethatspecificproceduresareinplacetodeal withemergencypreparednessandresponse.

Ensurethatpersonalprotectiveequipment usedbyworkersisusedproperly,anddoesnot endangertheirhealthorsafety.

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WORKER RESPONSIBILITYTheworker,aswellastheemployer,hasresponsibilitiesundertheOccupational Health and Safety Act.

Whenworkersmustwearpersonalprotective equipment,theymustusetheappropriate equipment.Theymustnotusepersonalprotective equipmentthatisnotinaconditiontoperformthe functionforwhichitwasdesigned.

Workerswithequipmentundertheircontrolthat doesnotcomplywiththeOHSCodemustremove thatequipmentfromservice.

Workersmustbeawareofthe“CodeofPractice” developedforjobsinvolvingconfinedspaceentry andmustnotenterorremaininaconfinedspaceif controlmeasuresarenotinplace.

Workersmustparticipateintrainingprograms providedbytheemployer.

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Getting copies of the OHS Act, Regulation & Code

Queen’s Printer

www.qp.gov.ab.ca Edmonton 780-427-4952

Occupational Health and Safety

www.worksafe.alberta.ca

Call any Government of Alberta office toll-free Dial 310-0000,

then the telephone number you want to reach

©2009-2010,GovernmentofAlberta,HumanServices

Thismaterialmaybeused,reproduced,storedortransmittedfornon-commercialpurposes.Thesourceofthismaterialmustbeacknowledgedwhenpublishingorissuingittoothers.Thismaterialisnottobeused,reproduced,storedortransmittedforcommercialpurposeswithoutwrittenpermissionfromtheGovernmentofAlberta,HumanServices.Thismaterialistobeusedforinformationpurposesonlynowarrantyexpressorimpliedisgivenastotheaccuracyorthetimelinessofthematerialpresented.IncaseofanyinconsistencybetweenthisdocumentandtheOccupationalHealthandSafetyLegislation,thelegislationwillalwaysprevail.

How to contact us

Province-Wide Contact Centre

Edmonton&surroundingarea 780-415-8690

ThroughoutAlberta 1-866-415-8690

Deaforhearingimpaired Edmonton 780-427-9999 ThroughoutAlberta 1-800-232-7215

Website

www.worksafe.alberta.ca

CH026–H2S–HydrogenSulphideRevisedAugust2012