WELCOME TO SAROOJ

• We are welcoming you to SAROOJ,Oman.

• Please pay your attention to this presentation
for a while.
• This presentation will help you to find out the
hazardous substances and emergency
situations in various projects.
• We all are responsible for HSE, so are you.
 TOPICS

• Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S)

• Banned Items
• Emergency Sirens
• Assembly Points
• Personal Escape Hood/Mask and PGM
(Personal Gas Monitor)
• Emergency Numbers
 H2S Killer Gas
Also Know as Deadly Gas
 Introduction
Hydrogen Sulfide is an
extremely toxic gas that is
colorless, flammable,
H2 S
heavier than air, soluble in
water, and has the smell of
rotten eggs at lower
concentrations.
At higher concentrations H2S
can deaden your sense of
smell.
 How Is Hydrogen Sulfide Formed?

H2S is a by-product formed when

organic matter decays.
Hydrogen Sulfide is generated as a
common by-product of industrial and
manufacturing processes.
Hydrogen Sulfide is formed under low oxygen conditions when
sufficient amounts of sulfur and bacteria are present. H2S can be
formed in many places such as:

• Oil and gas reservoirs.

• Sewers and sewage processing facilities.
• Dark damp places where bacteria is present.
 Where Is Hydrogen Sulfide Found?

Hydrogen Sulfide can be found

almost anywhere that oil, water,
and gas are produced.
Examples are:
Production Separators Vapor Recovery Units
Sulfur Removal Systems Flotation Cells
Water Knock-Outs Wellheads or Tanks
Heater Treaters Pits, Cellars or Sewers.
 What are the Health Hazards of H2S?

Hydrogen Sulfide can have an array of

health effects on the body depending on
exposure concentrations.

H2S will enter through the lungs and is

considered a chemical asphyxiate.

It blocks the transfer of oxygen to the

blood cells and causes paralysis of the
respiratory system.
 Target Organs

Eyes
Lungs

Nose

Respiratory
control center
Liver
Variables that determine the effects of H2S exposure

1. Time (how long)

2. Concentration (how much)
3. Frequency (how often)
4. Variables associated with the individual.
 Individual Variables

Age

Physical
Body mass Condition Drug/Alcohol
Compatibility

Smoker/Non-Smoker
 Effects on your Health

Hazards of H2S
 At slightly higher concentrations it will kill your sense of smell

 It is one of the most dangerous gases

 Irritant at relatively low concentrations

 Corrosive to skin and metals

 Exposure Affect on the Body

When a person inhales H2S,

 It travels directly through the lungs and into the blood

stream

 As it builds up in the blood, the person becomes poisoned

 Nerve centers in the brain become paralyzed

 The lungs stop working and the person is asphyxiated

 Heart stops and brain dies

Acute Effects (short term)
 CHRONIC Effects (long term)
• Eye irritation
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Irritation respiratory tract
• Sleep problems
• Anorexia
• Pulmonary oedema
• Corneal blistering
• Corneal pitting
• Brain damage
 Explosive and Flammable Limits

• When H2S (Hydrogen Sulphide) is burnt then SO2 is formed

• Sulphur Dioxide or SO2 is also a very poisonous gas

• SO2 has a Specific Gravity of 2.262

0% 100%
H2S H2S
4.3% (43,000ppm) 46% (460,000ppm)
Lower explosive limit (LEL) Upper explosive limit (UEL)
 H2S IS KNOWN AS

• Rotten eggs gas- Because this gas is smells

like rotten egg between 1 to 5 ppm
• Colorless gas/Invisible gas- It is not having
any color
• Heavier gas- Once the gas will leak
somewhere it will come straight to the ground
and it will accumulate on low level ground like
pits, trenches, holes, confined space etc.
 H2S IS KNOWN AS
• Toxic gas
• Silent killer
• Dangerous gas
• Poisonous gas
• Flammable gas
• Corrosive gas
• Sour gas
• At low concentrations the smell can be detected BUT
prolonged exposure will deaden your sense of smell.
 Background – The new COP
What is New – Industrial Health

• What to do about long term exposure

• There should be a survey if your pant has hydrogen sulphide
• Best to do a scoping survey first, with a sensitive hand held
hydrogen sulphide meter, since you may not have a problem.
• If there is a detectable smell you may have a problem.
 Background – The new COP
What is New – Working with H2S
• The most important measure !
• If you are working on a plant with hydrogen sulphide (over 50
ppm ) and must open a flange or valve to atmosphere
(including sample valves ) you must wear SCBA or air line
appararatus.
• So must anyone else in the area!
 Background – The new COP
What is New – Working with H2S
• The next most important measure !
• Everyone entering H2S zones must carry an escape mask (10
minute self contained) or better.
• Everyone entering H2S zones must carry a personal alarm.

• Personal alarms are intended to provide for personal safety.

Alarm settings are for 10 ppm for initial warning and 20 ppm for
immediate evacuation to a safe distance.

• A good tactic in evacuation could be to keep moving across wind

until the personal alarm stops. Check though that the alarms
cannot become saturated and stop working with too much H2S
(contact HSE).
 Introductory Training
Gas concentrations
• Gas concentration is measured in parts per million or ppm

• What is 1 ppm?

This little bit is 1

ppm when it
spreads out and
mixes with the air
in the big box
 Introductory Training

0.05 ppm You may be able to smell it

1 ppm Most people can smell it
Can affect your health if present 8 hours per day
for a period
10 ppm Short term [10-mins], eye irritation
Your personal alarm is set for 10 ppm and 15 ppm
>30 ppm Stop being able to smell

50 ppm Breathing affected, Edge of the yellow zone

300 ppm Fainting, collapse if you do not put on your escape

mask

1000 ppm Possibly fatal

 Introductory Training
Where does the hydrogen sulphide occur?
• In the live pipes
• In the separator vessels
• In the demethaniser columns
• In the amine units
• In the sour water units
• In the sewers and drains
• In the sulphur units
• In lubricating oil for pumps and in drier filling

• Can also be in the ground water due to bacteria

 Introductory Training
How does hydrogen sulphide get out?
• From leaks in pipes and tanks
• From pump and valve seals
• From valves being left open or being opened
• From vents if there is an upset in a tank

• The plant is designed to make these releases very rare

• Your help is needed in keeping them rare – if your alarm goes off
for a short period, note where the location is, and report it
 Introductory Training
How do you know if H2S is present?

• Your personal alarm will go off

• Area alarms will go off if the release of H2S is large. This gives a
sound and a blinking blue light

• Do not trust your nose, the gas may be too concentrated to

smell
 H2S Toxicity - PPM

• Unconsciousness - Death
• Brain Damage
1000
• Dizziness Loss of Reasoning
• Breathing stops in a few minutes
300
• Burns Eyes & Throat
• Affects Breathing 50
• Strong Smell – Rotten Eggs
• Exposure Limit 8 Hours 1-5
 ENTERING H2S AREA-
YOU SHOULD
• Show your access card to the security
personnel
• Make sure that you are having proper PPE,
specially personal gas mask and personal gas
monitor (Not expired ones)
 Banned items

• Not use camera, mobile camera, mobile

phones, cigarettes, lighters, pan, other
intoxicants.
 SIRENS

• If there is any emergency, you will hear sirens.

• Sirens are consist of two :
• 1. Emergency Siren
• 2. All clear siren
• Emergency siren will be in up and down
manner– wave sound
• All clear siren will be continuous sound
 Main Emergency Siren:
For ALL Emergencies
Emergency Siren
• Fire
• Gas release
• Accident

STOP what you are doing.

Make your area safe.

Take your PPE

Observe the wind direction.

Move to an assembly point – CROSS WIND

 CROSS WIND

• If wind is flowing from your opposite direction

to towards you, you should move to right or
left.
• Means if plant area is in your right side you
should move to left and if plant area is in your
left side you should move to right.
 ALL CLEAR SIREN

Return to Normal Work

OR Activity
Continuous Tone
 ASSEMBLY POINTS

• After hearing emergency siren we should

gathered in assembly points.
• Once you reach in assembly points, you will
wait for the instruction from representatives.
• Representative will give you the clear
instruction about the emergency through
public addressing system
 Assembly Points

• Once at the assembly area, wait for instructions from

the public address system, or from a representative.
• Do Not Leave the area unless:
– The all clear siren has sounded (continuous tone.)
– You have been told to move to another location.
 Personal Gas Monitor (PGM)

• BW GasAlertClip Extreme –
– Standard equipment in H2S zone areas for H2S
Detection.
– Once turned on it cannot be turned off.
– Press the Blue Button everyday to test.
– The instrument will activate at 10 ppm of
H2S in the air.
– Positioned at chest area on outside of clothing
– Not to placed in pocket.
 GAS MONITORS
• There are three types of alarm on this
monitor:
– Audible
– Flashing Light
– Vibrating

If the alarm activates:

• Stop what you are doing
• Hold your breath
• START moving from the area while putting
on your Escape Hood
• Then move to EEBD location
 EEBD LOCATION

• Emergency Escape Breathing Device.

• Put on your EEBD then move to any safest

location by cross wind.
• Report this incident to your supervisor or HSE
department
Escape Hood - Video
 H2S Gas - RECAP

NEVER FORGET THAT HYDROGEN

SULFIDE IS A DEADLY GAS.

TAKE NO CHANCES !

KNOW WHAT CONCENTRATION OF THE

GAS IS PRESENT BEFORE DOING ANY
WORK – GAS TEST