FEATURE GAS DETECTION


Portable gas detectors and staff protection during COVID-19


WHAT ARE THE LINKS BETWEEN COVID-19 AND GAS DETECTION?


The packaging, transportation and storage of COVID-19 vaccines at low temperatures necessitates the use of dry ice, which is a form of carbon dioxide (CO2


). If CO2 escapes in its


gaseous form, there is a danger to factory, logistics and healthcare workers, most of whom will be unfamiliar with dry ice and its potentially harmful effects. Although there is a clear global need for vaccine urgency, employers also have a responsibility to avoid compromising worker health and safety. Another application concerns the storage and


use of oxygen at temporary hospitals, a number of which are now in operation across Europe to provide COVID-19 patients with emergency ventilation. These facilities do not have permanently engineered solutions to monitor for oxygen leaks, which presents the need for additional safety precautions. In both applications, portable gas detectors


worn by personnel can monitor for gas leaks and alarm against dangerous exposure.


WHAT ARE RISKS OF EXPOSURE TO EXCESSIVE LEVELS OF CO2


Dry ice is solid-state CO2 CO2


becomes gaseous. CO2 AND OXYGEN? . However, sublimation of


occurs at temperatures above -78°C, when it in this form is heavier than


by volume can lead to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, while five per cent will likely


30 SUMMER 2021 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE


air and tends to take the place of oxygen, presenting a risk of anoxia. As little as three per cent CO2


There are many ways that portable gas detectors for personal use can deliver individual protection for key staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kevin O´Donnell, EMEA business development manager at Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection, uses his expertise to answer a number of pertinent questions.


prompt dizziness, confusion, headaches and shortness of breath. All of these conditions can prove dangerous in a workplace situation. Moreover, staff absenteeism due to feeling poorly is a major risk to the effectiveness of vaccine supply chains. As for oxygen, excessive amounts of this gas in


the atmosphere due to leakage from tanks or equipment presents a higher flammability risk.


WHAT ARE THE EXPOSURE LEVEL GUIDELINES FOR WORKPLACES?


Alarm levels for CO2 in the PS500 personal gas


monitor from Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection, for example, are set well below


three to five per cent. In fact, 0.5 per cent CO2 by volume is the EH40 prescribed time- weighted average safe exposure limit for workplaces across an eight-hour working day. There is also a guideline for STEL (short-term exposure limit), which is 1.5 per cent CO2


by


volume over a 15-minute period. With oxygen, leaks into the workplace


atmosphere above 25 per cent by volume, change the flammability of the environment. Again, a personal gas monitor, in this case the high-performance yet cost-effective Protégé


ZM from Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection, features appropriately set levels of 23 per cent Vol to warn against any impending danger.


HOW ARE PERSONAL GAS MONITORS USED?


The device simply clips to a lapel or belt loop, for example, from where it can sense danger from every direction and make that vital connection between excessive gas exposure and personal safety. A detector such as the Protégé ZM measures just 94 x 56mm and weighs only 76g. Personal gas monitors are extremely easy to use


and typically feature a single button switch-on. If an alarm triggers, the monitor will beep, shake and flash [audible, tactile and visual] to ensure the user acknowledges the warning in all kinds of environments, including noisy ones.


IS THERE ACCESS TO RECORDED DATA?


Data-logging capability sees a memory store taken every minute. Users can upload the data to a PC, where they will see a time and date stamp against exposure events. This evidence is useful if there is a requirement for an investigation or report.


/ INDUSTRIALCOMPLIANCE


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