What is H2S Gas?
H2S is the molecular formula of Hydrogen sulfide. It is a colorless gas that has a strong, unpleasant odor like rotten eggs.
Hydrogen sulfide gas is mainly produced from the decomposition of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. It can also be created by volcanic activity, and it’s found in black smokers at the bottom of the ocean. It is found naturally in oil fields, gas fields, mines and places that have decaying matter such as garbage dumps and waste treatment or sewage facilities such as city sewers and drains.
Hydrogen sulfide gas may also be generated in several industrial processes as a by product.
What is the allowed H2S exposure limit?
According to OSHA, The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 20 ppm not to be exceeded at any time, and 50 ppm as a maximum peak, not to be exceeded during any 10-minute work period. However as per NIOSH the recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is 10 ppm, which should not be exceeded during any 10-minute work period.
Why is H2S training necessary?
H2S gas can cause severe injury or death if inhaled in concentrations above the safe limit (which is itself as low as 10 ppm in a 10 minute interval) or if it comes into contact with skin or eyes because it binds to iron-containing proteins and causes cell death.
Furthermore H2S gas cannot be smelled by the human nose in higher concentrations, because the olfactory cells get numbed. So initially on first exposure, a human may be able to smell the gas which has an odor similar to rotten eggs, but as the exposure increases, the smell stops being detected. This is highly dangerous because the human may assume the gas no longer is present, whereas the opposite may be true, it may be present in larger concentrations.
To understand all the aspects of H2S gas, it is essential that a person who will be working in an area that may have the presence of H2S gas even as a remote possibility, should be well trained and aware of the H2S gas hazards. Hence H2S training is essential.
Personnel must either do periodic gas tests in the area where there might be presence of H2S gas or carry a personal gas monitor that will give out an alarm if H2S gas is detected.
Note: to learn more about gas monitors and gas detectors please take the Abhisam gas monitors training course here.
How to get H2S training?
You can take the Abhisam free online H2S training course on this portal. Simply register and take the course.
Where to find H2s Training near me?
If you have an internet connection and a device that can access the internet, then the nearest H2S training is right there with you. Simply take the H2S training online for free on this Abhisam training portal.
Is this a H2S Training PPT? Or is this an H2S training pdf?
This is a full fledged self-paced online H2S e-learning course, it is not just some H2S PPT that you can find anywhere or some H2S pdf that is hosted online. This Abhisam H2S course contains full narration, text, animations and an H2S training test that leads to an H2S training certificate (optional and has to be ordered after the training course completion).
Does OSHA require H2S training?
Yes, OSHA mandates that any worker who has to enter any area that may have the possibility of H2S presence should have mandatory H2s training.