BiWeekly Safety Meeting November 29 2012 GAS MONITORING
Bi-Weekly Safety Meeting November 29, 2012
GAS MONITORING • The days of using canaries in mines as primitive gas detectors are long gone…they've been replaced by fixed gas detection systems and portable gas monitors. • These instruments are designed to alert workers to unseen hazards that may exist in workplace environments, including in confined spaces.
GAS MONITORING � Multi Gas Monitor � Single gas monitor – H 2 S – CO – – H 2 S CO O 2 LEL
GAS MONITORING • The only way that you can be certain that a portable gas monitor will respond appropriately to a potentially threatening gas hazard is to test it with a known concentration of the target gas. BUMP TEST
GAS MONITORING • What exactly is a bump test anyway? A bump test station – Very simply, it is a brief exposure, or bump, of a portable gas monitor with a known concentration of the target gas or gases which is used to verify that the sensor responds accordingly and the instrument functions properly. – A bump test is not intended to be a measure of the accuracy of the instrument.
GAS MONITORING • What is calibration? – Instrument calibration refers to exposing the monitor to a known quantity of the measured substance (real or simulated) and resetting the instrument if required. – This verifies that the instrument is operating properly and adjusts for any sensor drift.
GAS MONITORING • Portable gas monitors should be worn in the “breathing zone” – this zone is the area 4 -6 feet from the ground, where most human breathing takes place.
FLASH REPORT* • A Mangan employee was in the Tesoro LAR ISOM Unit monitoring 26 AT 302 Sulfur Analyzer when his personal H 2 S monitor alarmed. • He immediately removed himself from the analyzer shed area and started to feel dizzy. *This incident took place in 2008
FLASH REPORT • The employee walked to the ISOM Operators Shelter and reported the incident. • His H 2 S monitor had peaked at 115 ppm. • Operations took readings after the incident and followed up. • The Mangan employee was taken to the clinic for observation and released…no treatment was rendered.
GAS MONITORING • If the alarm on a portable gas monitor is activated, it is the responsibility of the employee wearing the device to respond properly to the alarm. Following an alarm: – – See to personal safety Notify the unit operator or supervisor Turn the monitor in – readings will be downloaded Either new monitor is issued or existing monitor given back (following a bump test)
INTRINSIC SAFETY • What does "intrinsically safe" mean? – Intrinsic safety is a requirement that may be applicable to devices that are being operated in areas with flammable gases or fuels. It means that the device is incapable of igniting those gases.
INTRINSIC SAFETY • Intrinsically safe equipment is defined as: – "equipment and wiring which is incapable of releasing sufficient electrical or thermal energy under normal or abnormal conditions to cause ignition of a specific hazardous atmospheric mixture in its most easily ignited concentration. ”
INTRINSIC SAFETY For a fire or an explosion to occur, fuel, oxygen and a source of ignition must be present. An intrinsically safe device assumes that fuel and oxygen are present, and is therefore designed so that electrical energy or thermal energy is never great enough to cause ignition.
INTRINSIC SAFETY • Hazardous Environments – Hazardous environments include areas where flammable gases, vapors and liquids are stored and manufactured. – These areas are prevalent in many of today's manufacturing facilities including chemical plants, paint manufacturers, oil refineries, textile mills, etc. – Each designated hazardous environment has specific certification requirements for all equipment used in the I-Safe (intrinsically safe) area.
INTRINSIC SAFETY • Intrinsically safe equipment must carry a label, which specifies the exact I-Safe rating for the equipment and the name of the NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) who tested it. • Testing laboratories have very stringent certification requirements that vary according to the level of I-Safe approval desired.
INTRINSIC SAFETY • Therefore, each intrinsically safe device is certified for different levels of I-Safe approval, and can only be used in specific hazardous environments.
INTRINSIC SAFETY • Most cell phones are not intrinsically safe • Be sure you know the policy regarding intrinsically safe devices for the sites you work at!
Gas. Alert. Clip Extreme q The Gas. Alert. Clip Extreme H 2 S monitor is a personal WARNING device to notify employees when H 2 S concentrations exceed factory-set alarm setpoints q It is not a measurement device q It is your responsibility to respond properly to the alarm q The device cannot be turned off after it is activated; it is continuously on for a period of 2 years
Gas. Alert. Clip Extreme q Two factory set alarm setpoints: – Low alarm setpoint is 10 ppm – High alarm setpoint is 15 ppm • NOTE: Certain clients require lower alarm setpoints of 5 -10 ppm – be sure to know the requirments of the sites you work at q Both setpoints offer audible, visual, and vibration alarms q The three types of alarms will activate every second while detection is at or above the low alarm setpoint q The three types of alarms will activate every half-second while detection is at or above the high alarm setpoint q It is the responsibility of the employee wearing the device to respond properly to the alarm
Gas. Alert. Clip Extreme q The detector will remain on for a period of two years q The life-remaining clock on the bottom of the display is the amount of time left on the lifespan of the device q The display shows the countdown of remaining months, then days, and then hours q The life-end alarm will sound when the liferemaining clock reached zero q Do not submerge in liquid q Use damp cloth (water only) to clean outer shell
Gas. Alert. Clip Extreme ¨ Ensure that a self test has been performed by confirming that there is a check mark in the upper lefthand corner of the default display ¨ If the word “TEST” is displayed on the upper left corner, follow the directions on the “Self Test” slide (next) ¨ Once self test is performed, clip the device on your chest pocket or as close to your breathing zone as possible ¨ Make sure the grill is free of dirt and debris ¨ Also, make sure the grill is not covered
Gas. Alert. Clip Extreme q Self test verifies the integrity of the sensor, battery, and the alarms q A self test is required if the display reads “TEST” in the upper left hand corner q To perform a Self Test: – The test must be conducted in an area free of background gas – Press and hold the blue button for one second
Gas. Alert. Clip Extreme q q q If the self test is successful, a check mark will appear in the upper left hand corner If the self test fails, the display will read “TEST” Perform the self test again if the initial test fails If the self test fails three consecutive times, the device will shut down Contact Safety if the device fails
Gas. Alert. Clip Extreme • How often should you Bump Test your monitor? – Mangan will defer to the vendor’s suggested bump test frequency and interprets this as to require bump testing be performed as follows: When used daily for fulltime activities: Once per week When used intermittently for sporadic site work: Once per month
H 2 S MONITORS – Long Beach Office • In 2012, the Long Beach office spent $3, 500 of overhead money to purchase new H 2 S monitors • Once a monitor is turned on, the “clock is ticking”, even as it sits in a desk drawer or employee’s vehicle unused for days, weeks…. or even months!
H 2 S MONITORS – Long Beach Office • Please remember that Mangan is an Employee-Owned company – In order to help us keep overhead costs down, only employees who spend 50% or more of their time in the field will be issued a monitor permanently – For those who spend less than 50% of their time in the field, please return your monitor ASAP to the Safety Department
H 2 S MONITORS – Long Beach Office • Help us to create a pool of “Loaner” monitors – Can be checked out at any time (please return promptly when finished) – Check out using the log sheet provided – no one from the Safety Department needs to be present
QUESTI O NS? COMMENTS? Please e-mail safetytraining@manganinc. com
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