GAS DETECTION & MONITORING
to rely on someone opening external doors to ventilate the area as a ‘solution’ to this type of critical safety issue. All too often because it is seen as cheaper than addressing the need to monitor potential gas accumulation properly.
While carbon dioxide appears to have little toxicological effect in low concentrations, the risk of not having a suitable gas detection system in place is that if there is a build-up of higher concentrations, there is a risk of employees experiencing increased respiratory rate, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, and impaired consciousness. While concentrations above 10% may cause convulsions, coma and even death.
Viewed in this light, it is clear that the only proper solution in this instance is a suitably-designed fixed gas detection system that would alert staff to the potential build-up of harmful gasses, whilst automatically triggering mitigating actions such as pre-programmed ventilation.
CONNECTIVITY AND SMART TECHNOLOGY Furthermore, installation of smart sensors on fixed
safety monitoring equipment enables staff to be proactively alerted of safety issues and interact with other systems, as well as identifying maintenance and servicing schedules. While in working environments such as food and drink manufacturing, a gas detection system can be set up to not only sound an alarm when the gas readings rise above a safe level, but also to link up to a ventilation system. This means that not only are workers alerted to unsafe gas levels, but automated ventilation is activated by the control system to mitigate any impact. An added benefit of this type of approach is that systems are more efficient; instead of ventilation fans running permanently, they can be automatically triggered to turn on only when required, based on the condition of the atmosphere, as reported by the gas detection system.
Research from the latest Draeger Safety at Work report showed that if organisations are to optimise innovation and to utilise new connected technology to truly enhance safety in the workplace, there needs to be a conscious and consistent move to access and analyse smart technology data, and to use the findings to implement change. Analysing data produced by gas monitoring and detection devices offers valuable insight that will allow for better, more informed decision- making, both in the short and long-term. This data can also be evaluated to serve as the basis for more effective risk assessments and health and safety policies.
FUNCTIONALITY Other factors to consider when selecting an
appropriate gas detector is the range of concentration anticipated and whether the presence of other gases may affect readings or even damage the sensor.
Overall, a gas detection device should be easy to use and provide sophisticated functionality; particularly important when connecting it to other devices and control systems for management-level summary data and reporting.
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It is also essential to build flexibility into gas safety planning to ensure it can adapt in future, whether to add additional devices, or to introduce new functionality to capitalise on innovations or developments in connected technology.
NEW CHALLENGES TO GAS SAFETY The growing focus on environmental considerations
and the introduction of e-fuel technology, such as hydrogen, to support decarbonisation of global energy systems means that we face new challenges with gas safety. These new forms of energy are essential to support the move to net zero but clean energy still poses safety risks and it will be imperative that industry has a clear understanding of these risks and how to manage them.
As we move ever closer to the more widespread use of greener fuels such as hydrogen, wider industry faces new challenges with gas safety. Some of hydrogen’s properties require additional engineering controls to ensure its safe use. Specifically, hydrogen has a wide range of concentrations in the air at which it is flammable and also has lower minimum ignition energy than gasoline or natural gas. Together, these factors mean hydrogen can ignite more easily.
Add to this the fact that hydrogen is colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic and burns with a flame that is almost invisible to the naked eye, and it’s easy to see how the dangers are often underestimated.
Therefore, ongoing and specific training on gas safety – particularly for gases distinctive in certain industries – is usually an invaluable way of helping to correct these types of misconceptions.
As in many other aspects of business, it’s a case of not necessarily opting for what appears to be the most cost-effective solution on day one but planning for the future – whether corporate expansion or the introduction of new technology or fuel sources which may generate new gas safety risks.
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