Safety Minute: Hydrogen Sulfide

Please use in safety meetings with attribution to:

www.eagleford.training

Disclaimer

What is Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)• Invisible gas•Flammable over 4% concentration•Heavier than air and settles in low places• Can mix with light gasses

•Extremely toxic •“Rotten egg” smell•Deadens sense of smell, never rely on nose for detection

Exposure Limits• ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (8hr) = 10 ppm•OSHA 8 hour average = 10 ppm•OSHA ceiling (10 min, 1 time)= 20 ppm•OSHA peak (instantaneous) = 50 ppm• Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health = 100 ppm

• PPM is one part out of a million• San Antonio to Houston is 1 million feet

Health Effects• 10+ Parts Per Million: Irritation of the eyes and membranes,

rashes• 100+ PPM kills sense of smell and causes more severe irritation• 500+ PPM Dizziness, loss of conscious, stopped breathing• 700+ PPM Quick unconsciousness and loss of breathing• 1000+ PPM Immediate unconsciousness, quick death

• Duration of exposure increases the effect at low concentrations

Breathing Protection•Monitor all sites where H2S may be present•Use fixed monitors in strategic areas•Use personal monitors in the breathing zone • Breathing zone is up to 10 inches from the nose and mouth

• Above 10 PPM must wear a respirator• Either supplied air line or Self Contained Breathing Apparatus•User must be clean shaven and fit tested to respirator

Thank you for working safe!• All accidents are preventable only when everyone does their part• You are responsible for your own safety• Doing the job right is faster than doing the job over• Consider Hydrogen Sulfide Awareness for all oilfield workers

Visit Eagle Ford Training to learn more in San Antonio and across Texas