Page 76 - Occupational Health & Safety, July 2018

HAZMAT
Hydrogen Fueling Safety
Hydrogen safety utilizes the same safety concepts as other flammables and cryogenics. Though it’s been around forever, we have only begun to understand its potential.
BY KATHLEEN HILTNER
70 Occupational Health & Safety | JULY 2018
www.ohsonline.com
Energy derived from oil is not sustainable; it contributes to global warming and in some instances, global conflict. In the United States, consumers are primed and ready for
the next technological advancement that will provide an energy solution that is renewable, sustainable, and will possibly lead our country to global energy inde- pendence. Hydrogen fuel is the promising product.
Even with a potential solution identified, it cannot happen overnight because we need to build our in- frastructure of hydrogen production, transportation, and storage facilities to meet the increasing demand. The Hydrogen Council, a group of 18 industry lead- ers whose focus is to advance the development of a hydrogen economy, outlined a plan to meet these de-
mands in its report “Hydrogen, Scaling Up.”1
Various regulatory entities have also done much to ensure the safe handling of hydrogen, but much more will be needed as we develop a variety of uses for hy- drogen energy. Like most flammable gases, there are safety concerns to address when managing hydrogen fuel. First, it is important to understand the properties
of hydrogen in order to recognize the hazards.
What is Hydrogen?
Hydrogen is the first element in the periodic table. It is the smallest, lightest, most abundant element in the universe. With the symbol H, molecular formula of H2, it exists in molecular forms such as water and organic compounds and requires physical separation from the
AIRGAS