At the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Define "hydrogen sulfide"
- Describe hydrogen sulfide toxicity
- Describe ways hydrogen sulfide exposure can occur
- Describe hydrogen sulfide flammability hazards
- Describe how to detect hydrogen sulfide
- Describe how to prevent hydrogen sulfide hazards
- Describe proper evacuation procedures in events of hydrogen sulfide exposure
The following key questions are answered in this module:
What is hydrogen sulfide?
It is a toxic and flammable gas that is heavier than air.
What are some places where hydrogen sulfide may be present?
It is found in petroleum and natural gas; is released naturally by decaying plants, animals, and sewage; is created by production of oil, paper, rayon, and leather; and can also be found dissolved in water.
What are the health effects associated with hydrogen peroxide?
In addition to burns caused by its flammability, exposure through inhalation can cause long-term health such as paralysis, nerve damage, and memory loss. Inhalation can also lead to death.
How can hydrogen sulfide be detected?
When the gas is in the air at low concentrations, it has a distinct rotten-egg smell, but this smell quickly goes away as the nose gets used to it and/or as concentrations of the gas in the air increase. Therefore, you can't trust you nose as a foolproof guarantee. Personal gas monitors can be used to detect the gas more reliably.
What should you do in the event of a hydrogen sulfide exposure?
? Leave the area immediately and seek medical care if necessary. Remember when evacuation to that the gas will be in low-lying areas and to evacuate upwind.
What if a coworker has lost consciousness and cannot evacuate?
Don't try to rescue the coworker yourself. Instead, evacuate and then call for help.
Below is a transcript of the video sample provided for this module:
Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas which is encountered in a wide variety of industries. While it is not the number one industrial danger, there were approximately a dozen deaths per year in the period 1992 to 2002, which were attributed to the gas.
This module describes the dangers of hydrogen sulfide and how those risks can be reduced.
Use the additional resources and links below to learn more about this topic:
- U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) – www.osha.gov
- OSHA Safety & Health Training Resources – www.osha.gov/dte/library/index.html
- OSHA Publications - www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.html
- OSHA Safety and Health Topics - www.osha.gov/SLTC/hydrogensulfide
- National Institue for Occpatoinal Safety and Health (NIOSH) - www.cdc.gov/niosh/