PORTABLE DETECTION EQUIPMENT

PORTABLE DETECTION EQUIPMENT

If the atmospheric concentration of hydrogen sulfide could reach or exceed those levels stipulated in Par. 6.1, portable hydrogen sulfide detection instruments¹⁸ shall be available. Refer to Section 10 for details regarding evalua­tion, selection, maintenance, and use of hydrogen sulfide de­tection equipment. In those instances where the hydrogen sulfide atmospheric concentration may exceed the measure­ment range of the detection instruments in use, a pump and colorimetric indicator tube detector" (length-of-stain), with a supply of detector tubes, shall be available to take instan­taneous "grab" samples to determine hydrogen sulfide con­centrations in enclosed facilities, storage tanks, vessels, etc.

If sulfur dioxide levels could reach or exceed those stipu­lated in Par. 6.1 (e.g., during flaring or other operations pro­ducing sulfur dioxide), either portable sulfur dioxide detection instruments or length-of-stain detectors, with a supply of detector tubes, shall be available for determining the sulfur dioxide concentration in the area and to monitor areas impacted by sulfur dioxide gas when fluids containing hydrogen sulfide are burned. Personnel shall wear appropri­ate personal breathing equipment (refer to Par. 6.4) unless it is established that the work area atmosphere is safe.

BREATHING (RESPIRATORY PROTECTION)
EQUIPMENT

Site specific contingency plans shall be prepared to spec­ify the quantity and location of breathing equipment to be available. Respirators shall meet the requirements of OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard (refer to 29 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1910.134) and be approved un­der procedures outlined in ANSI Z88.2. All breathing air cylinders shall meet U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or other appropriate regulatory requirements (refer to 30 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910.134, Chapter 1, Subchapter B, Part II, Subpart H, Par. 11.80 and 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 178, Subpart C). The following types of breathing equipment with full face piece meet these

A gas detection instrument is an assembly of clcctricl, mechanical, and chemical components designed to sense and respond continuously to the presence of chemical gases (hydrogen sulfide or sulfur dioxide) in atmo­spheric mixtures.

A pump and colorimetric indicator tube detector (length-of-stain), with a supply of detector tubes, is an assembly of specially designed pump and de­tector tubes that operates by using the pump to pull a known volume of air or gas through a detector tube. The tubes contain chemical reagents that are designed to detect the presence and display the concentration of hydrogen sulfide or sulfur dioxide in the sample. The length of the resultant color band in the tube indicates an instantaneous quantitative concentration of the specific chemical in the sample.

requirements and should be used where the work area atmo­spheric concentration exceeds 10 ppm for hydrogen sulfide or 2 ppm for sulfur dioxide:

a. Self-contained, positive-pressure/pressure-demand
breathing equipment that provides respiratory protection in
any atmospheric concentration of hydrogen sulfide or sulfur
dioxide.

b. Positive-pressure/pressure-demand air-line breathing
equipment coupled with a self-contained breathing apparatus
equipped with a low pressure warning alarm and rated for
fifteen minutes (minimum). This equipment permits the
wearer to move from one work area to another.

с Positive-pressure/pressure-demand, air-line breathing equipment, with an auxiliary self-contained air supply (rated for a minimum of 5 minutes). This type unit can be used for entry as long as the air line is connected to a source of breathing air. The auxiliary self-contained air supply (rated for less than 15 minutes) is suitable only for escape or self-rescue use.

CAUTION: Gas mask canister type breathing and demand type (negative pressure) equipment shall not be used in oil and gas producing and gas processing plant operations when a hydrogen sulfide or sulfur dioxide environment could be encountered.

Storage and Maintenance

Personal breathing equipment shall be strategically lo­cated so that this equipment is quickly and easily available to essential personnel. Essential personnel are those required to provide proper and prudent safe operations activities and those required to effect control of the hazardous hydrogen sulfide or sulfur dioxide conditions (refer to Par. 7.5). Addi­tional breathing equipment may be required by site specific contingency plans (refer to Section 7). Breathing equipment shall be maintained and stored in a convenient, clean, and sanitary location, in accordance with OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard (refer to 29 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1910.134). All breathing equipment shall be checked before and after each use and inspected at least monthly to ensure that it is maintained in satisfactory condition. A record of the monthly inspections, including dates and find­ings, shall be retained [refer to 29 Code of Federal Regula­tions 1910.134(f)]. These records should be retained for a minimum of twelve (12) months and longer if dictated by company policy. Equipment needing repair shall be appro-

priately tagged and removed from equipment stock until it is suitably repaired or replaced. Proper storage, maintenance, handling, and inspection is essential to the integrity of per­sonal breathing equipment. Personnel with assigned breath­ing equipment should be instructed in proper maintenance of this equipment, or other steps shall be taken to ensure its in­tegrity. NIOSH, OSHA, and manufacturer's recommenda­tions shall be followed.

Face Piece Restrictions

Full face piece breathing equipment meeting requirements of Par. 6.4 should be used where the work area atmosphere concentration exceeds 10 ppm for hydrogen sulfide or 2 ppm for sulfur dioxide. Personnel shall not wear eyeglasses with temple bars that extend through the sealing edge of the face piece. Using approved adapters, corrective prescription lenses may be mounted inside the breathing apparatus face piece.

As of this writing, U. S. Department of Labor (OSHA) does not permit wearing contacts when using respirator breathing equipment [refer to 29 Code of Federal Regula­tions Part 1910.134(e)(5)(ii)]. OSHA has investigated the prohibition of contact lenses used under respirator breathing equipment and issued a field memorandum (February 8, 1989, Thomas Shepich, Director, Directorate of Compliance Programs) stating their intent to modify the rule and issuing an interim enforcement policy as follows:

a. Violations of the Respiratory Protection Standard (29
Code of Federal Regulations Part 1910.134) involving the
use of gas permeable and soft contact lenses shall continue to
be documented in the case file and recorded as de minimis;
citations shall not be issued.

b. Evidence indicating any negative effect(s) associated with
the use of contact lenses with respirator breathing equipment
should be provided to U. S. Department of Labor (DOL),
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
Directorate for Compliance Programs, Washington, D. C.
20210. Benefits associated with the use of contact lenses
with respirator breathing equipment would be useful to
OSHA. The issue of use of non-gas-permeable hard contact
lenses will be resolved in OSHA's revision of 29 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 1910.134.

Note: Companies should review available information and provide em­ployee guidance regarding the use of contact lenses under respirator breath­ing equipment.

Personnel shall not wear facial hair that may prevent proper sealing of the face mask. Personnel shall be satisfied that a face seal can be obtained with the assigned equipment or randomly selected unassigned equipment before they use the equipment. If a seal cannot be obtained, either satisfac­tory equipment must be provided or the individual shall be disqualified from working in areas where hazardous condi­tions are anticipated or existent.

Air Supply

Breathing air quality shall meet requirements set forth in OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 Code of Fed­eral Regulations Part 1910.134, and shall at least meet Grade D requirements as described in ANSI CGA G-7.1.

Compressors

All breathing air compressors used shall meet the require­ments set forth in 29 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1910.134 of OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard. The air intake for such compressors must be located in a contam­inant-free area that is unclassified by APIRP500, Section B. Inlet air for such compressors shall be monitored when con­ditions arise which permit possible contamination of the inlet air by toxic, flammable, or combustible gases.

Breathing Equipment Use

Personnel shall use breathing equipment prior to entering an area where OSHA ACCs and PELs for hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, respectively, are exceeded (refer to Par. 4.1, Appendices A and B, and 29 Code of Federal Regula­tions Part 1910.1000, Subpart Z, Table Z.I) until either the area is made or tested safe or they return to a safe area. Breathing equipment shall be put on in a safe area prior to either beginning a rescue operation or entering a hazardous environment.

6.5 STANDBY RESCUE PERSONNEL

When personnel work in locations with hydrogen sulfide or sulfur dioxide concentrations considered immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) (refer to Appendices A and B) in the working breathing zone, a standby rescue per­son trained in rescue techniques and with suitable rescue equipment, including appropriate breathing apparatus (refer to Par. 6.4), shall be provided.

RESCUE EQUIPMENT

At locations with hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, or oxy­gen concentration considered immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH), suitable rescue equipment [for example, appropriate breathing equipment, lifcline(s), and harness(es)] shall be provided. Types of rescue equipment required will vary and will depend on the type of job and work being per­formed. Appropriate counsel with qualified health and safety professional personnel should be effected to determine what rescue equipment should be available for site-specific job and work conditions.

WIND DIRECTION INDICATORS

Consideration should be given to locating windsocks, streamers, flags, or other suitable devices for indicating wind direction at the producing or gas processing site. These de­vices shall be readily visible to personnel on or approaching the work location.

Note: Regulatory requirements for wind direction indicators shall be ob­served.

WARNING SIGNS

Legible warning signs, such as "HYDROGEN SULFIDE OPERATIONS—ENTER ONLY WHEN MONITORING SHOWS THE AREA TO BE SAFE" or "RESPIRATORY PROTECTION EQUIPMENT MUST BE WORN BE­YOND THIS POINT," should be prominently posted at ap­propriate locations (e.g., entrance points) for facilities where produced fluids containing hydrogen sulfide (refer to Par. 4.1 for applicability) are being processed or handled.

Note: Regulatory requirements for sign posting shall be observed.