Guiding you in the right direction

Scott Safety tells HSM about its new free guide to gas which is designed to be a definitive reference resource on the subject

The issue of air quality is one that workers in many industries around the world face. The air that we breathe is made up of a number of different gases and if the balance of these gases is altered, or an additional, harmful gas introduced, our safety can be compromised. According to HSE statistics, in 2009/10 there were 7 fatal injuries, 91 non-fatal injuries and 162 over-3-day injuries as a result of poisoning and/or exposure to harmful gasses, indicating that although there are many forms of gas detection products and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) available, there are still a worrying number of deaths and injuries to workers in hazardous environments.

There are many varieties of gas detection monitors and systems on the market, that offer high levels of protection, however knowing which product is suitable for specific types of application can be confusing.

As an industry expert in gas detection, Scott Safety is an expert in the dangers of contact with toxic and combustible gases and the wide range of health issues that can result from exposure. Knowing the dangers, Scott Safety has produced its own detailed Gas Detection Reference Guide to help others understand and identify the properties and hazards of the gases that can enter the workspace and how best to protect themselves. The guide includes specific information on the different types of technology used in gas detection, the benefits and limitations of the different sensor types and how they can be best utilised to provide the safest protection.

Know your gases Hazardous gas monitoring is a danger that many different industries face, including Petrochemical, Oil and Gas, Pharmaceutical, Wastewater Treatment Facilities. The Scott Safety Guide breaks each industry down into the potential activities that would require the need for gas detection and the notable gases that could be present, or not. Understanding the different types of gases and the dangers that they can pose to people is the first step in choosing the correct form of gas detection. The guide lists the different gases that could be present within a workplace and the affects they can have, such as suffocation, cancer or causing explosions. Even the most common gases, such as oxygen and nitrogen can have devastating affects if present in dangerous levels. Each gas has certain exposure limits (the concentration to which workers can be exposed continuously for a short period of time), which are broken down into; permissible exposure limit, short term exposure limit and threshold limit value. The combustible gas reference table and toxic gas reference table within the Guide, set out the different gases, their various limits as listed above and the lowest airborne concentration that can be detected by smell along with a 'how to' section verifying how to use the tables.

Fixed versus portable detection The most common application in hazardous atmosphere monitoring is the use of mounted, fixed gas detection systems. These are set up to provide continuous monitoring in areas where leaks, ruptures or releases of hazardous gases are likely to occur. Designing a gas detection system, that meets requirements and protects the workers, comprises of a number of components and can be customised to suit differing needs. When designing a fixed gas detection system the following areas need to be considered: Understand the application Identify the potential danger points Establish the response functions Determine gas characteristics Profile the facility Portable gas detection is a handheld or body mounted system of sensors that provide protection to an individual user, with the use of visual, audible and vibratory alarms. Portable gas detectors can usually be configured in different sensor combinations for use in multiple applications including confined space entry, where fixed gas detectors are not available or to verify that an atmosphere is not hazardous when servicing a fixed gas detection system.

Gas detection standards explained As with many products that are made to protect people, the standards and approvals for gas detection are numerous and can be confusing. It is important to understand the many markings that can appear on the products and their significance and value. Within the Guide, Scott Safety has dedicated a section to each different standard or approval to clearly define what they mean and how they should be applied to the different gas detection products, including: Hazardous area classifications Protection methods and standards NEMA classifications/Ingress protection CE Marking This Gas Detection Reference Guide is an essential tool for those with a responsibility for managing safe working environments in industries where conditions may be compromised by toxic and combustible gases. Understanding the serious issues that workers in these situations face and the complex decisions that need to be made in order to protect them, Scott Safety is making the Guide available free on its website, please visit www.scottsafety.com/gasdetectionguide.