Page 79 - Occupational Health & Safety, July 2018

Procedures to identify when ice buildup is a hazard and how to prevent or remove ice buildup are necessary to ensure safe opera- tion of the hydrogen system.
Liquid air and prevention
Liquid hydrogen is so cold that it can liquefy the air it comes into contact with. When air is in the liquid form, the nitro- gen in the air will evaporate out, leaving the liquid air with a higher than normal amount of oxygen. Oxygen-enriched liquid air is a fire and explosive hazard. Prevent cryogenic liquid from spilling onto asphalt or coming into contact with other combus- tible materials.
Asphyxiation and ventilation
Liquid hydrogen expands with a 1/850 ratio, causing a rapid buildup of hydrogen gas. In enclosed spaces, this can cause an asphyxiation hazard. Good ventilation, natural or intrinsically safe mechanical ventilation, will assist in preventing as- phyxiation hazards. If possible, use hydro- gen in outdoor settings and always have appropriate gas detection systems in place.
Unexpected Emergencies and Emergency Action Planning
Lastly, facilities and local fire departments should plan for unexpected emergencies including hydrogen fires and large hydro- gen releases. Training materials for first responders that cover hydrogen emergen- cies and include emergencies involving hydrogen fuel celled vehicles can be found at http://www.nfpa.org/training-and-events/ by-topic/alternative-fuel-vehicle-safety- training/emergency-response-guides.
Tomorrow’s Challenges
Hydrogen has the highest energy content of any fuel in use today, it’s easy to pro- duce, and there are unlimited applica- tions. Hydrogen safety utilizes the same safety concepts as other flammables and cryogenics and, though it’s been around forever, we have only begun to understand its potential.
Kathleen Hiltner, MS, CSP, Paramedic, is a Health and Safety Specialist for Airgas, an Air Liquide Company. She provides occupa- tional health and safety guidance to several chemical production and transportation fa- cilities in the United States. In addition, she continues to maintain licensure and work as a paramedic in the Detroit area.
REFERENCES
1. Study Task Force of the Hydrogen Council. (2017, November). Hydrogen Scaling Up. Retrieved January 25, 2018, from www.hydrogencouncil.com.
A sustainable pathway for global energy transition.
2. Increase Your H2IQ. (n.d.). Retrieved Jan. 25, 2018, from https://energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/increase-your-h2iq 3. https://www.h2tools.org/bestpractices/communications/placard
Rivkin, C., Burgess, R., & Buttner, W. (2015, January 1). Hydrogen Technologies Safety Guide (United States, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy). Retrieved Jan. 25, 2018, from http://www.osti.gov/scitech
4. Home | Hydrogen Tools. (n.d.). Retrieved Jan. 25, 2018, from https://www.h2tools.org/
H2 Tools is intended for public use. It was built and is maintained by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
with funding from the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office. 5. https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/newsletter.html Hydrogen safety newsletters from the DOE.
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