BC Municipal OH&S Conference 2011

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

Vancouver, BC November 6-8, 2011

SESSION E-3
gas detectors

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

(confined spaces and more)
E.W. (Ev) Carefoot, P.Eng., CIH, CRSP
Salus Services Limited

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Presentation caveats….

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

• Presenter has NO affiliation with a gas detection or
instrumentation manufacturer, supplier, distributor,

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rental organization…
• Where a particular manufacturer’s equipment is

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

illustrated, this does not suggest or imply a preference
for it, nor that it has any benefits above that of any other
manufacturer.
• If a particular manufacturer’s equipment is not illustrated
it is not because of choice to not show their products. If I
missed your product it is an oversight.
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Gas Detectors

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

• Why do we need them?

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• What can we choose from?
• How do they work?

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• How do we maintain them?
• Where, when, and how do we use them?
• What do they tell us?

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Why do we need them?

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Canaries only provide so much warning…
The purpose of gas detectors/monitors is…

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1. To detect the gas or vapor being monitored, and

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

2. To provide a warning or alarm.

Some portable equipment we can also use to

investigate and assess worker exposures for
comparison to exposure limits.
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What can we choose from…

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• Electronic instrumentation

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BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE
• Other direct reading sampling methods

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Equipment Selection

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• Accuracy • Ruggedness
• Environmental operating • Ease of use and

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range: maintenance
• Remote sampling • Pump configurations
capability
• Operating temperature
• Sensor and battery life

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• Relative humidity • Data-logging capabilities
• Intrinsic safety for • Software
explosive atmospheres • Vendor support
• Specificity for
contaminant of interest
• Warm-up time
• Response time
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 “Simplicity, reliability, & low maintenance”

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How do they work?

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• Sensors
• Electrochemical (EC)

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• Catalytic combustion (“bead” / Pellistor)
• Infrared (IR)

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• Photo-ionization detector (PID)
• Transmitter
• Control Module

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 Gas sensors…

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 VOCs detected by PID…

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1,4-Dioxane n,n-Dimethylacetoamide Cumene Meta-xylene
1-Butanol 4-Hydroxy-4-methyl-2- Cyclohexane Mesityloxide
1-Propanol pentanone Cyclohexanone Methyl Isobutyl

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1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene Acetone Decane Ketone
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Acetophenone Diethylamine Methyltertiarybutyl
1,2-Dibromoethane Amylacetate Dimethoxymethane ether
1,2-Dichlorobenzene Benzene Ethyleneglycol Ortho-xylene
Bromomethane Octane

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene Ethylacetate
1-Methoxy-2-propanol Butadiene Ethylene Para-xylene
Methylacetate Butylacetate Heptane Phosphine
Methylacrylate Tetrachloroethylene Hexane Propylene
Methylacetoacetate Trichloroethylene Iso-amylacetate Propylene Oxide
Methylbenzoate Dichloroethane Iso-propylamine Pyridine
Methylmethacrylate Ethylbenzene Iso-propylether Quinoline
2-Butanone Ethylacetoacetate Iso-butanol Tertiarybutylamine
2-Pentianone Chlorobenzene Iso-butylene Trisdichloroethene
2-Propanol Iso-octane Tetrahydrofuran
2-Methoxyethanol Iso-phorone Thiophene
Toluene
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How do they work?

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

Configurations – K I S S …
• Screen Selection

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• Confidence beep
• Alarm Settings

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• Datalogging
• User / site
• Date/time/temperature

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How do they work?

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

Alarm Settings
• What is the purpose of an

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alarm?
• What alarms are found on gas
detection equipment?

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

• Equipment failure or operation
warning
• Multi-staged alarms (1/2/3 stage)
• Time-weighted average (TWA)
• Short term exposure limit (STEL)
• Audible, lighted, or vibration
• Latching or NON-Latching
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Alarm notifications…

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

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• LOW battery
• Battery fail
• OR / OL (over range / over limit) 13
 Alarm settings

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

Examples of manufacturer default alarm settings

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Oxygen (O2)

AGENCY

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LOW HIGH TWA STEL LOW HIGH

WorkSafeBC 2009* 13 25 25 100 20.5 -

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Manufacturer 1 35 70 35 400 19.5 23.5
Manufacturer 2 25 50 25 400 19.5 23.5
Manufacturer 3 35 50 35 200 19.5 23.5
Manufacturer 4 25 100 25 100 19.5 23
Manufacturer 5 35 100 35 100 19.5 23.5

*WorkSafe BC Bulletin WS 2009-03

Incorrect use of monitoring equipment in confined spaces can endanger workers 14
Alarm settings

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

WorkSafeBC Bulletin WS 2009-03
Incorrect use of monitoring equipment in confined spaces can endanger workers

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How do they work?

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

Screen choices
• “Cal due” OR “Last Cal”

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• Read screen
• Peak

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• TWA (time-weighted average)
• STEL - short-term/15 minute

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Datalogging

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

• Logging intervals (1sec, 30sec, 1min, 5min, 15 min)
• Log on alarm

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How do we maintain them?

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

FIXED GAS
• Regular calibration

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• Monthly bump test
• Manual

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

8.0 CALIBRATION OF SENSOR / TRANSMITTERS
Frequency: All sensors require regular calibration maintenance to ensure
accuracy and indeed to confirm that they have not expired.
Electrochemical sensors installed in applications such as parking facilities should
be gas calibrated a minimum of once per year. A frequency
of once every six months is preferred.
Sensors installed in applications that must specially meet the need for
Occupational Health & Safety standards should be gas calibrated once
every six months. These sensors should be gas tested once per month with a 18
known concentration of target gas.
How do we maintain them?

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

PORTABLE GAS

1. Regular calibration

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• Manual
• Automatic

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2. Functional (Bump) testing

3. Fresh air setup or “Zero”

adjustment
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Calibration, bump…what’s what?

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

ISEA Statement on Verification of Calibration for
Direct Reading Portable Gas Monitors Used in Confined Spaces 11-20-02

Full Calibration

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The adjustment of an instrument’s response to match a desired
value compared to a known concentration of test gas.
Function (Bump) Test

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

A means of verifying calibration by using a known concentration
of test gas to demonstrate that an instrument’s response to the
test gas is within acceptable limits.

Sensor Challenge
Exposing a monitor's sensor(s) to a concentration of calibration
gas, which will cause the monitor's alarms to function. 20
Fresh air (zero) adjustment

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Fresh Air Setup / Zero Adjustment
Adjustment of sensors prior to calibration, bump test, or in

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field to set sensors to 20.9% (21%) oxygen and 0 ppm toxic
sensors

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

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Maintenance

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

Condition of:
• Sensors (poisoned)

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• Pump
• Battery

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

• Remote sample probes
• Dust and hydrophobic filters
Sensor replacement
• Oxygen 2Pb + O2 → 2PbO
• CO/H2S non-consumptive
• LEL different than others 22
Where and when are they used

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

FIXED SYSTEMS PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
• Arenas • Area (e.g. confined space)

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• Ammonia
• Pre-entry, AND
• Carbon monoxide
• Nitrogen dioxide • Continuous or intermittent

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

• Pools • Work task monitoring
• Chlorine • TWA – time-weighted average
• Ozone • STEL – 15-min average
• Landfill site
• Exposure assessment
• Methane
• Greenhouse
• Carbon dioxide
• Parkade
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• Carbon monoxide
• Propane
How we use them…

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

PORTABLE GAS
• Pre-use Routines

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• Battery
• Functional (bump) testing

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• Peak – clear
• Fresh air setup – “zero”
• Sampling practices
• Diffusion or remote
• Instrumentation position / stratification
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How we use them…

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

Must have an understanding of:
• Material to be sampled

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• Density
• Solubility

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

• Clear understanding of equipment limitations
• Area and expected atmospheres
• Responses when alarms activated
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 How we use them…

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE 8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

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What do they tell us?

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

“Current conditions”
• What are acceptable atmospheric conditions?

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• Confined Spaces Entry Hazardous Atmospheres
• OHSR Part 9 - LOW , MODERATE, HIGH
• “Clean Respirable Air”

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

• Approximately 20.9% oxygen
• No flammable gases
• No toxic contaminant exceeding 10% of an exposure limit
• Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH)
• Exposure Limits (ELs) and Threshold Limit Values (TLVs)
• Time-Weighted Average (TWA – 8 hour or adjusted)
• Short term (15-min STEL)
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• Ceiling Limits
CH4 & low hazard atmospheres

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• Methane - CH4 - a common flammable gas, also has an
TWA exposure limit of 1,000 ppm (C1 to C4 hydrocarbons)

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• Flammable or LEL sensors read in a % of the lower
explosive limit or LEL or %LEL (which is different than %air)

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

• Methane explosive range of 5%air (LEL) to 15%air (UEL)
• 1%air = 10,000 ppm
• Methane LEL is 50,000 ppm so 1%LEL is 500 ppm
• LOW hazard atmosphere must not exceed 10% of a
contaminants exposure limit: Methane = 100 ppm
• Resolution of LEL sensors is typically 1%LEL
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Response times

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Response Time (t90):
The time for a sensor to reach 90% of its final stable

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reading. Typically an exposure of twice the t90 time is
required to get a stable reading.

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 Alarm conditions

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 Past conditions…

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 SESSION E-3 8/2/00 12:00 AM
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8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15 BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

8/1/00 6:00 PM
8/1/00 12:00 PM
8/1/00 6:00 AM
8/1/00 12:00 AM
7/31/00 6:00 PM
7/31/00 12:00 PM
7/31/00 6:00 AM
7/31/00 12:00 AM
Chart 1 Carbon Dioxide Concentrations

7/30/00 6:00 PM
7/30/00 12:00 PM
Week 1: July 26 to August 2, 2000

7/30/00 6:00 AM
7/30/00 12:00 AM
7/29/00 6:00 PM

CO2
7/29/00 12:00 PM
7/29/00 6:00 AM
7/29/00 12:00 AM
7/28/00 6:00 PM
7/28/00 12:00 PM
7/28/00 6:00 AM
7/28/00 12:00 AM
7/27/00 6:00 PM
7/27/00 12:00 PM
7/27/00 6:00 AM
7/27/00 12:00 AM
7/26/00 6:00 PM
7/26/00 12:00 PM
7/26/00 6:00 AM
7/26/00 12:00 AM

0
900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100
1000
 100 PPM TEST GAS

“False” information
SENSOR READING

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 LEL sensor correction

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LEL sensor correction

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Training experience
• 4 gas detector kits

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• Bump tested
• 2 read “33%LEL”

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

• 2 read “81%LEL”
What happened?
• 2 kits were propane
and 2 kits were
methane
• Bump test gas reversed 35
What don’t they tell us…

8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15

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BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE
• Appropriate sensor for gas/condition to be
detected has to be present
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• Oxygen sensor is not a “catch all”!
Recordkeeping

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• Calibrations
• Function (bump) tests

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• Datalogging
• Alarms

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

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Education and training

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• Qualified Person
• Training curriculum

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• Selection
• Equipment operation
• Equipment Limitations
• Configuration

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

• Gas hazards and characteristics
• Sampling and testing practices
• Inspection and maintenance
• Datalogging and interfaces
• Data interpretation
• What’s available
• Equipment Manuals
• Quick Use Guides
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• CD/DVD/online training
Summing up

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• We need gas detectors to:
1. Detect the gas or vapor being monitored

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2. Provide a warning or alarm
• Lots of selection

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

• Very specific in their operation
• Care and attention in their maintenance
1. Regular calibration
2. Functional (bump) testing
• Fixed and portable applications
• Education and training IS required 39
Parting comments…

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“When it comes to gas detection training, what you don’t
know CAN hurt you!”

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Dave Kuiawa, Director of Training
Industrial Scientific Corporation

BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE

“First to fall over when the atmosphere is less than perfect
Your sensibilities are shaken by the slightest defect
You live your life like a canary in a coalmine
You get so dizzy even walking in a straight line…”
“Canary in a Coal Mine” excerpt
The Police (1980)
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 8 NOVEMBER 2011 10:45-12:15
Questions?

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BC MUNICIPAL OH&S CONFERENCE
Thank you.
For more information please contact:
Ev Carefoot
ecarefoot@salus.bc.ca
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