Page 35 - Occupational Health & Safety, October 2019

30, or 60 minutes from now. Regulations require continuously monitoring the atmo- sphere to be sure it stays safe. Keep the in- strument out and continue monitoring the atmosphere as long as the work continues.
Lack of training. Workers are often handed an instrument, assigned to perform the atmospheric test, and sent on the job without any understanding of how to op- erate the instrument or interpret its read- ings. Training tools are plentiful. Videos, computer-based training modules, online tutorials, and personalized seminars are all readily available to help convey the knowl- edge and competency necessary for using gas monitors. Don’t go to work without un- derstanding the equipment and how to use it properly.
Misinterpretation of readings and data. Many people falsely believe that when they know a hazard exists that they cannot identify, they can take their portable gas monitor into the area and it will tell them what the problem is. Nothing could be fur- ther from the truth. Most gas sensors are affected by cross interferences from vapors other than the target compound. Make sure you understand the effects of cross interfer- ing gases on sensors and avoid misinter- preting the data they provide.
Weak internal standards. Don’t rely on manufacturers to set your policy standards. Equipment manufacturers are experts on their equipment. They are not experts in your field or operations. Make sure that your policies are driven by best practices in safety for your industry and not by what is most convenient or economically fea- sible. Simply relying on the “manufactur- er’s recommendation” is no way to ensure that your program will protect people and property.
Paying attention to these factors will put you well on the way to ensuring that you comply with the applicable rules and that your gas monitoring program is following the best practices in the field.
Dave Wagner is the Director of Applica- tions Engineering & Product Knowledge at Industrial Scientific Corporation. He can be reached at dwagner@indsci.com.
REFERENCES
1. https://www.osha.gov/confinedspac- es/1926_subpart_aa.pdf
www.ohsonline.com
Circle 12 on card.