H2S HAZARDS

A Safety Presentation

H2S HAZARDS
- H2S or hydrogen sulfide is one of
the most common and serious
hazards faced in the petroleum
industry.

H2S - What Is It? Where Does It

Occur?

- H2S is a colorless, highly flammable gas. It

has a pungent odor which smells like rotten
eggs. Uncontrolled, it can be deadly.
- H2S is naturally present in most fossil fuels
and occurs as a by-product during the
production and processing of petroleum and
gas. It can also be produced during metal
refining, pulp and paper production, and
sewage and waste water treatment.

H2S PROPERTIES
H2S GAS IS:
Toxic
Colorless
Soluble
Heavier

than air
Flammable & explosive

H2S PROPERTIES

H2S Gas is Corrosive

Odor is not a reliable warning

Burning H2S emits sulfur dioxide (SO2)

H2S corrosion is a factor in the

formation of pyrophoric materials

H2S EFFECTS of EXPOSURE

1ppm Sense of smell remains intact and can

detect a rotten egg odor

10ppm Eye irritation; this is the threshold

limit
value (TLV)-the greatest
concentration
safe to breathe without
respiratory
protection for a normal 8hour work day

100ppm Eye inflammation, headache, nausea

&
cough. Sense of smell becomes
ineffectual
within 3-15 minutes

H2S EFFECTS of EXPOSURE

500ppm Breathing difficulty, nervous system

impairment can result in tremors,
numbness in extremities, convulsions,
ability to reason is lost

700ppm Respiratory failure, seizures, loss of

bowel
and bladder control,
unconsciousness,
fatal in 30 minutes

1000ppm
in a

Immediate unconsciousness. Fatal

few breaths!

H2S Hazard Control

Engineering

Measures

Detection
Respiratory

Protection
Effective Training

H2S Hazard Control

Engineering

Measures

- Safe Design of Process

Equipment
- Regular Equipment
Maintenance
- Proper Ventilation
- Control of Leaks

H2S Hazard Control

Detection

- Areas with H2S to be

monitored
- Fixed-Area H2S Monitor
- Portable Gas Monitor

H2S Hazard Control

Respiratory

Protection

- Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus (SCBA)
- Supplied Air Breathing
Apparatus (SABA)
- Emergency Escape
bottle

H2S Hazard Control

Respiratory

Protection

- Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus (SCBA)
- Supplied Air Breathing
Apparatus (SABA)
- Emergency Escape
bottle

H2S Hazard Control

Effective
-

Training

Recognition of a leak or release of H2S

H2S emergency response plan for the area
Identification of H2S alarms and warning lights
Location of emergency exits
Recognition of wind direction with wind socks or flags

H2S Hazard Control

Effective
-

Training

Instruction to escape upwind or crosswind

Use of emergency escape equipment
Use of emergency telephone numbers
Location of safe assembly areas
Use of air-monitoring devices

H2S Hazard Control

Effective
-

Training

Use of respiratory protection equipment

Necessity of No smoking rules in high risk areas
Practice of rescue procedures
Practice of rescue breathing and cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR)

H2S Emergency Response

ALERT

EVACUATE

PROTECT

H2S
Hazards

STAY ALERT !

Dont let a good safety record lull you

into a false sense of security. Always
follow your organizations safety
procedures, and be ready to respond in
the event of an emergency.
When you work around H2S, it is critical
that you think before you act. Theres
simply no room for errors.