Page 78 - Occupational Health & Safety, July 2018

HAZMAT
Addressing compatible metals in the design phase and a management of change program are required to ensure only compatible materials are used in processes containing hydrogen.
the hydrogen fueling process is much like fueling a gasoline-pow- ered vehicle, it still will challenge the safety professional to work outside of a controlled workplace setting. Lastly, with an estimated 9 million metric tons of hydrogen produced and used in the United States today, we can expect that number to rise as the demand for this clean fuel increases.
One of the best resources for identifying the appropriate reg- ulations is the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrogen Tools,4 which provides an in depth look at all applicable regulations. The Hydrogen Technologies Safety Guide3,5 also specifically addresses safety regulations in a condensed and simplified manner.
Thermal Hazards and PPE
In this section, we will focus on liquid hydrogen and its six main hazards: thermal, material compatibility, pressure, ice buildup, liq- uid air hazards, and asphyxiation. Formal training programs are available from the Hydrogen Tools website.4
Hydrogen is a cryogenic that poses thermal hazards to people. Contact with a cryogenic material may produce frostbite and cryo-
genic burns to human tissue. Proper PPE is necessary to protect against thermal hazards.
Pressure and relief valves
A common phrase used in hydrogen operations is “a cryogenic system is a high pressure system waiting to happen.”4 Hydrogen stored inside a bulk tank as a cryogenic liquid can heat up past its boiling point, causing the liquid hydrogen to become a gas that can expand to 850 times its normal liquid volume. This increase in pressure, if not vented, could cause the tank to rupture in an explo- sive manner. Proper installation and maintenance of pressure relief devices is necessary to reduce the potential for pressure buildup and ensure safe operation of hydrogen systems.
Hydrogen embrittlement and material compatibility
Hydrogen is the smallest element in the universe and as a gas, it has the ability to infuse into many metals and cause them to be- come brittle—a term called hydrogen embrittlement. Metals such as steel are susceptible to hydrogen and become brittle and fracture when exposed. Addressing compatible metals in the design phase and a management of change program are required to ensure only compatible materials are used in processes containing hydrogen.
Ice buildup and removal
“Ice buildup around cryogenic systems happens when water from air condenses and freezes on system components and piping carrying cryogenic liquids.”4 This may cause components to frac- ture and may freeze valves in place so that they cannot be manipu- lated, or it may cause vents to freeze and fail to perform properly.
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