Page 10 - OHS, November/December 2022

IH: GAS DETECTION
It’s clear that advancements in gas detection technology help keep sites and workers safe, but there is an environmental aspect as well that cannot be understated.
wonder that there are several applications for fixed and portable gas detection. When they all work together as a layered approach, they help provide the best outcomes for detecting gas leaks.
Today, there are catalytic detectors that use a tiny sensing element, or an infrared gas detector, which measures combustible gases where the absorption bands are in the infrared region of the light spectrum. Some instruments use that same infrared technology in the form of a powerful beam that can cover a distance of several hundred meters. Alternatively, there are electrochemical sensors, which are compact, which require very little power and generally have a long-life span.
In testing, location and context matter. Sensors that detect gas concentrations may collect data in a geographical area, such as “in the factory” or “in the northwest corner of the third floor,” or at personal locations, wherein the worker wears instruments that sample their breathing zone. Deciding which methods are right for a company’s staff depends on the specific situation.
The choices, however, are not only about functional technology.
Improved Visibility
High-speed wireless networks allow gas-detection systems to monitor worker safety in real time. One way it does this is location tracking. Managers can see where each worker is. In an emergency situation, the manager knows how to find every employee, and in the worst of situations can dispatch an emergency crew to the worker’s exact location.
From a business viewpoint, this feature translates into clear benefits. If something goes awry, no one has to wonder, “Where’s Harry? Last I knew, he was headed to the storage room—right where we just got that alert.” Undoubtedly, location tracking becomes a significant safety feature that can quickly and easily save Harry’s life when used properly.
Integrating Gas Detection in an
Always-on Safety-First Environment
Many of the baseline technologies for identifying gas hazards have a long, proven history. However, new technologies allow for improved detection capabilities, helping managers ensure that every worker goes home at night, safe and sound. In particular, connected technologies and real-time data communication
are enhancing gas detection—as well as wider safety systems. Connected safety solutions and real-time intelligence can let experts respond to safety threats, manage business risks and improve productivity.
As part of this, gas detectors can provide real-time data visibility. Some equipment can collect sensor data, which helps identify and resolve problem areas. The real-time availability of data is invaluable for workers. The recorded information also makes it easier to gather and manage critical compliance data. Software is available to automatically collect critical safety data from across a business and store it. This saves time in compliance reporting, highlights missteps and lets safety engineers focus on the most important matter—taking care of workers.
Advanced Gas Detection for Environmental Stewardship
It’s clear that advancements in gas detection technology help keep sites and workers safe, but there is an environmental aspect as well that cannot be understated. Take methane, a gas that is often emitted at oil and gas sites and is a key contributor to the climate crisis we’re seeing today. Over a 20-year period, methane is 80 times more powerful at warming the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.
That’s where continuous monitoring for leak detection comes in. This method provides 24/7 monitoring of site operations, alerting site managers to leaks as soon as they are detectable to minimize fugitive emissions released into the atmosphere. Technology is available today that employs continuous monitoring through hyperspectral imaging to capture both visible and infrared hyperspectral video to monitor, quantify and display gas leaks, reducing false alerts and providing actionable information. With video verification capabilities, invisible gases like methane can be visible to site workers, making it clear where methane leaks are coming from so they can be addressed right away.
There are many business benefits when disparate data is joined for analysis, collaboration and reporting. Gas readings are among the information gathered, which helps safety managers make better-informed decisions and sometimes connect otherwise unconnected dots.
It is important to test and monitor in any environment where humans may encounter harmful gases. As with so many other things, when it comes to gas detection solutions, it’s important to choose the appropriate tools for the job. That includes identifying which gases to detect, recognising possible sources where they may be found and asking the right questions, among other application-specific concerns.
Even in traditional scenarios, the product decision process includes contemplating ease of use for operators and routine servicing. In the old days, this simply may have meant buying and caring for canaries, but we’ve evolved since then.
Robert Kester is the President of Honeywell Rebellion. Dr. Kester is the President of Honeywell Rebellion, a line-of-business within Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions, which delivers continuous visual emissions monitoring solutions for the oil & gas industry.
10 Occupational Health & Safety | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 www.ohsonline.com