Health, Safety and Environmental Policy s4

/ Origination Date: / October 7, 2011 / Revision Date: / June 2012
Release Authorized by: / Danny Trahan, Safety Director / Manual Rev 4
HSE OFFICE, ENGINEERING & PROJECT/SITE ACTIVITIES

HYDROGEN SULFIDE (H2S)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
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HYDROGEN SULFIDE (H2S) 1

PURPOSE 2

SCOPE 2

APPLICATION 2

DEFINITIONS 2

1.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 2

1.1 Potential Exposures 2

1.2 Properties and Effects 3

A. Physical Data 3

B. Acute 3

C. Chronic 5

D. First Aid 5

1.3 Exposure Limits and Routes 5

A. Action Level 5

B. Exposure Limits 5

C. Routes of Entry 5

1.4 Owner/Client Program 5

2.0 MONITORING 6

2.1 Request Past Sampling Results from Client 6

2.2 Individual H2S Monitors 6

2.3 Notification of Results 6

2.4 Observation of Monitoring 7

2.5 Industrial Hygiene Monitoring Methods 7

2.6 Monitoring Results 7

3.0 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT 7

3.1 Respirators 7

3.2 Additional Personal Protective Equipment 8

4.0 Work Controls 9

4.1 H2S Areas 9

4.2 Buddy System 9

4.3 Confined Spaces 9

4.4 Sudden Discharges/Escape 9

4.5 Job Safety Analysis 9

5.0 TRAINING 9

6.0 REFERENCES 10

7.0 ATTACHMENTS 10

PURPOSE

This practice identifies the requirements for minimizing exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H2S).

SCOPE

This practice includes the following major sections:

· General Requirements

· Monitoring

· Personal Protective Equipment

· Work Controls

· Training

APPLICATION

This practice applies to work activities and employees under the control of P2S and its contractors.

DEFINITIONS

Action Level (AL) – Refers to an exposure one half the allowable limits (TLV-TWA).

Threshold Limit Value – Time-Weighted Average (TLV-TWA) – The TWA concentration for a conventional 8hour workday and a 40hour workweek, to which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, without adverse effect.

Threshold Limit Value – Short-Term Exposure Limit (TLV-STEL) – The concentration to which it is believed that workers can be exposed continuously for a short period of time without suffering from irritation, chronic or irreversible tissue damage, or narcosis of sufficient degree to increase the likelihood of accidental injury, impair self-rescue, or materially reduce work efficiency, and provided that the daily TLV-TWA is not exceeded. A STEL is a 15minute TWA exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during a workday even if the 8hour TWA is within the TLV-TWA.

1.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1.1 Potential Exposures

Work conducted in/around the following industries/activities may result in exposure to employees:

· Drilling operations:

- Recycled mud

- Water from sour crude wells

- Blowouts

· Tank gauging (tanks at producing, pipeline, and refining operations)

· Field maintenance (such as tank batteries and wells)

· Opening of process piping or systems for maintenance, repair, or isolation

· Crude petroleum

· Natural gas

· Petroleum refineries

· Coke ovens

· Paper mills

· Tanneries

· Sewers

· Sewage treatment

· Utility vaults

The project HSE Representative will identify the areas or operations on a facility plot plan. The plot plan will be included as part of the new hire orientation, hazard communication, and H2S exposure training courses.

1.2 Properties and Effects

H2S is a highly flammable, poisonous gas.

A. Physical Data

Color: Clear and colorless

Odor: Characteristic “rotten eggs” odor at low concentrations; sense of smell disappears at 150-250 parts per million (ppm)

Odor Threshold: Less than 0.5 ppm

Explosive Limits: 4.3 - 46 percent

Boiling Point: N/A

Vapor Pressure: 267

Vapor Density: 1.2, slightly heavier than air

Ignition Temperature: 500 °F

B. Acute

Irritant: Yes

Sensitization: No

Eye Effects: Low concentrations will generally cause irritation to the conjunctiva. Repeated exposure to low concentrations is reported to cause inflammation of the eye tissues, sensitivity to light, tearing, pain, and blurred vision.

Skin Effects: May irritate the skin upon contact.

Ingestion Effects: Ingestion is unlikely. H2S will irritate the mucous membranes causing a burning feeling with excess salivation likely. Irritation of the gastrointestinal tract may also occur.

Inhalation Effects:

· Irritation of the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract may be experience at about 50ppm.

· Headaches, dizziness, nausea, or intoxication may develop above 50ppm.

· Exposures above 100ppm are considered to be immediately dangerous to life and health.

· Concentrations over 1000 ppm cause immediate collapse with loss of breathing, even after inhalation of a single breath.

Continuous inhalation of low concentrations may cause olfactory fatigue or paralysis of the sense of smell. Thus, detection of H2S by its odor is not effective.

C. Chronic

Teratogen (may cause birth defects): Yes

Reproductive Hazard: Yes

Mutagen (may cause damage to DNA): No

Synergistic Effects

(more toxic when mixed with other chemicals): None reported

Carcinogenicity: NTP: No
IARC: No
OSHA: No

Medical Conditions

Aggravated by Exposure: Blood disorders

D. First Aid

Eyes: Flush with clean, low-pressure water for at least 15minutes.

Inhalation: Remove from contaminated area immediately. Give oxygen. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. Do not attempt to rescue unless wearing self-contained

1.3 Exposure Limits and Routes

A. Action Level

5ppm averaged over 8hours.

B. Exposure Limits

10ppm averaged over 8hours (ACGIH TLV)

15ppm averaged over 15minutes (ACGIH STEL)

C. Routes of Entry

Skin Contact: Yes

Skin Absorption: No

Eye Contact: Yes

Inhalation: Yes

Ingestion: Yes

1.4 Owner/Client Program

P2S and its contractors/lower-tier contractors must be informed where H2S is used in a host facility, and of applicable plant safety rules regarding exposure and controls.

It may be appropriate – or even a requirement – to adopt/comply with the owner/client’s written compliance program. The following must be performed by the HSE Representative:

· An assessment will be made to ensure the program complies with applicable regulations.

· A deviation will be requested in accordance with requirements in Practice 000.653.0020, Health, Safety, and Environmental Management System – Execution.

2.0 MONITORING

Employees who will work in areas identified in section 1.1 will wear individual H2S monitors.

2.1 Request Past Sampling Results from Client

Before working in operating facilities or areas with known sources of H2S, each project will formally request information from the client on past IH, air quality, or other sample results that may be used to indicate the levels of exposure likely to be encountered by P2S employees. This request will be in writing and documented in accordance with the project’s document control procedures. The written request and any response will become part of the project records and will be retained in accordance with Practice 000.653.1500, Records Management and Document Control.

Attachment01 provides and example letter that may be used for this request.

2.2 Individual H2S Monitors

Individual monitors will meet the following specifications:

· Have a digital read out and not simply an alarm.

· Consider monitors with data-logging capabilities.

· Be capable of recording and allowing retrieval of peak H2S concentrations and have some capability of determining when that peak was recorded (date and time).

Unless superseded by site-specific regulation, each employee will be required to:

· Ensure that the sensor grill is free from dirt and debris and is not obstructed.

· Perform a self-test, and have the monitor bump-tested and calibrated periodically according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

· Wear the monitor on the outermost layer of clothing, above the waist and in front of the chest/abdomen. The preferred location is within 1foot (0.30meter) of the nose; this area is referred to as the “breathing zone.”

· Evacuate the area and notify site supervision immediately of any alarm from the personal monitor.

At a minimum, H2S monitors must be used in continuous mode of operation that will alarm when the level reaches or approaches the TLV of 10ppm.

2.3 Notification of Results

Notification of monitoring results will be in accordance with Practice 000.653.2007, Hazard Communications.

2.4 Observation of Monitoring

The monitoring process may be observed by all employees whom the monitoring affects.

2.5 Industrial Hygiene Monitoring Methods

Common IH monitoring methods for H2S include the following:

· H2S-specific colorimetric tubes, also known as “length-of-stain” tubes. Examples include but are limited to products made by Draeger, Sensidyne, or Gastec.

· NIOSH laboratory analysis method 6013,
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nmam/pdfs/6013.pdf

Atmospheric testing will be conducted before entry within confined spaces that have contained – or may be suspected to have contained – H2S.

2.6 Monitoring Results

Monitoring results will be sent to the Corporate Industrial Hygiene Manager in accordance with the schedule in Practice 000.653.2000, Industrial Hygiene Program Requirements.

3.0 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

3.1 Respirators

Respiratory protection will be used in accordance with Practice 000.653.3002, Respiratory Protection.

Appropriate respiratory protection will be selected based on the best available information. Examples of best available information in order of preference include:

· Applicable IH monitoring results collected by the employer while conducting similar activities using similar methods

· Written recommendations from the employer’s corporate HSE professional (for P2S, this will be the Corporate Manager of IH)

· Applicable IH monitoring results collected by the client

· Client-written requirements for respiratory protection

· The following table

H2S Concentration / Respirator / Cartridge
Unknown (such as no IH monitoring information and/or emergency response for a release) / Supplied air / Not applicable
Less than 10 ppm / None required / Not applicable
Greater than or equal to 10 ppm, but less than 100 ppm / supplied air or
ESCAPE ONLY / Not applicable
Greater than or equal to 100 ppm / Supplied air / Not applicable

Note: There are no approved air-purifying respirator cartridges for H2S.

Escape respirators will be changed after each use as part of an escape event. The escape respirator should not be used for any purpose other than escape.

Toxic effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S)

EFFECT / EXPOSURE / EST. PPM
Odor detectable by most people / Any / 0.2
TLV for 8-hour exposure / 8 hours / 10
TLV for 15-minute exposure / 15 min / 15
Irritation eyes (reversible) / 60 min. / 20
Olfactory paralysis + / 3-15 min / 100
Pulmonary edema (irreversible)* / 30 min / 200
Potentially lethal (unconsciousness) / any / 500
+ The effect is faster at higher concentrations
* Potentially lethal for the most vulnerable part of the population (5%)

The recommended TLVs are:

· TLV-STEL, 15 minutes is 15ppm. This is based on avoiding transient irritant effects; and

· TLV-TWA, 8-hour is 10ppm.

3.2 Additional Personal Protective Equipment

Eye/Face Protection: Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) if less than 3 hours; change out filters immediately after 1 time use; or use self-contained breathing apparatus in unknown atmosphere; if LEL is >5percent do not enter

Skin Protection: Protective gloves – Neoprene, butyl rubber, PVC, polyethylene

Other/General
Protection: Safety shoes, safety shower, eyewash “fountain”

4.0 Work Controls

4.1 H2S Areas

The boundaries of H2S areas must be plainly marked with “Danger” signs warning of H2S, in accordance with Practice 000.653.3301, Barricades, Signs, and Tags.

4.2 Buddy System

A “buddy system” will be used any time an employee goes into an H2S contaminated area. The observer must observe the person entering the H2S area from a safe distance.

4.3 Confined Spaces

Refer to Practice 000.653.3322, Confined Space Entry.

4.4 Sudden Discharges/Escape

If a break occurs in a line carrying H2S, leave the zone of exposure quickly moving upwind, up-hill, or at a right angle to the wind – run at right angles left or right. Do not run away from the windsock; you might get trapped.

4.5 Job Safety Analysis

Where an exposure limit is likely to be exceeded, a JSA (Form 000.653.F0100 or equal – may also be known as a “compliance program”) will be developed in accordance with Practice 000.653.1304, Pre-Task Planning/Risk Analysis.

Results of air or bulk sampling, calculations of potential H2S exposure, and other data that demonstrate compliance with this practice will be attached to the JSA/compliance program.

Note: Refer to Attachment01, Example of Formal Request for Client Monitoring Data.

5.0 TRAINING

Training will be conducted for employees who will or may be exposed to H2S at/above the AL as follows:

· Upon initial employment

· Annually

· Any time there is a change in this practice

· When there is a change in or addition of a process or operation that creates the potential for exposure or increase in exposure

Training will include the following:

· Contents of this practice

· Contents of the relevant standard(s)

· Area emergency alarms and evacuation routes

· Location of emergency eye wash stations and showers

· Emergency phone numbers

· Appropriate protective measurements to control H2S e exposures during normal operations and emergency situations

6.0 REFERENCES

Document ID / Document Title /
000.653.0020 / Health, Safety, and Environmental Management System - Execution
000.653.1304 / Pre-Task Planning/Risk Analysis
000.653.1500 / Records Management and Document Control
000.653.2000 / Industrial Hygiene Program Requirements
000.653.2007 / Hazard Communications
000.653.3002 / Respiratory Protection
000.653.3301 / Barricades, Signs, and Tags
000.653.3322 / Confined Space Entry
Forms:
000.653.F0100 / Job Safety Analysis

7.0 ATTACHMENTS

Attachment No. / Attachment Title
Attachment 01 / Example of Formal Request for Client Monitoring Data

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