Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an invisible and odorless gas that can be deadly if inhaled at high concentrations. It occurs naturally and can be produced during industrial processes like drilling. The document discusses guidelines from ANSI for training workers on H2S safety. It provides an overview of the hazards of H2S, symptoms of exposure, recommended safety precautions like monitoring H2S levels and using proper respiratory equipment, and the importance of following an organization's emergency response plan through practice drills.

1. Hydrogen Sulfide

2. PPT-SM-H2S 2017 v2
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an invisible hazard
that can be released and produced during
industry processes, such as drilling.
H2S can also develop naturally in oxygen
deficient environments, such as bogs,
swamps, polluted water, and
manure pits.
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H2S can collect in:
 Low-lying areas
 Any enclosed facility or piping that contains
H2S or H2S-contaminated fluids
 Pits
 Tanks
 Vacuum trucks
 Confined spaces

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At high concentrations,
H2S can kill in a single
breath.

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Multiple agencies provide guidelines to help
workers avoid H2S exposure, including the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
ANSI recently updated its Z-390 standard for
Accepted Practices for Hydrogen Sulfide
Safety Training Programs.
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The 2006 version of the ANSI Z-390 standard
was revised to address:
References to obsolete technology
Non-flexible presentation format
Required presentation of material that wasn’t pertinent to
most workers
Structure of document
Visitor training
Refresher training
Threshold limit value–time-weighted average (TLV-TWA)

7. PPT-SM-H2S 2017 v2
The updated 2017 version of the ANSI
Z-390 standard now:
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References updated technology
Has flexible structure open to partial remote instruction
States that students must be presented with relevant
information to ensure their safety
Has an improved structure
States that visitors must receive full worker training program
Requires refresher training annually with full course
presentation
Includes the updated American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) TLV-TWA

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Companies must use engineering and
administrative controls to protect workers
from H2S exposure and provide workers with
training appropriate to their potential level of
exposure to H2S.
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Some examples of what training should cover
include:
 Wind direction awareness and routes of
egress
 What to do in an emergency
 Participating in drills

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H2S goes by many names, including The Silent
Killer, rotten egg gas, swamp gas, and sour gas.
Characteristics of H2S include:
 Highly toxic, colorless gas
 Extremely flammable, may ignite at high
temperatures
 Extremely explosive, containers of H2S may
explode if exposed to fire or handled carelessly

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You can only smell low concentrations
of H2S.
At high concentrations, H2S impairs
and eventually wipes out your sense
of smell. Do not use your nose to
detect H2S.
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You can be
exposed to H2S
through:
Inhalation
Skin contact
Inhalation is your
main concern.

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Symptoms of H2S exposure include:
Acute Toxicity Chronic Toxicity
• Loss of sense of smell
• Excitement or giddiness
• Eye irritation
• Coughing and sneezing
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Respiratory tract
irritation
• Diarrhea
• Eye irritation
• Corneal blistering, pitting, and
opacity
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Respiratory tract irritation
• Pulmonary edema
• Loss of appetite
• Sleep disturbances

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The industry accepted exposure level for H2S
is 10 ppm:
 Check with your company for its accepted
exposure level

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If the H2S concentration may exceed 10 ppm, you
need to wear a personal monitor:
 Position the monitor as close to your mouth
and nose as possible to measure air from the
breathing zone
 If your monitor goes off,
leave the area immediately

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Wind conditions tell you which way H2S will
spread:
 Check the windsock or streamer regularly
and any time you are unsure which way the
wind is blowing
 Stay on the upwind side
 Make sure you are not downwind of an H2S
source
 Always move crosswind and then
upwind to get away from an H2S
source

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ANSI and the American Petroleum Institute (API)
recommend wearing one of the following respirators
when you work in environments with more than 10
ppm H2S:
 Positive-pressure full-facepiece hoseline/airline
supplied-air respirator (SAR) and carry an
escape pack
 Positive-pressure self-contained breathing
apparatus (SCBA)

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H2S is a deadly hazard that can kill you in a single
breath. Know your role in your company’s H2S
contingency plan and participate in drills.
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Do not rely on your sense of smell to
detect the presence of H2S.
Always wear a personal monitor when
working in potential H2S
environments. If your monitor goes
off, leave the
area immediately.

20. Copyright © 2016 by PEC/Premier Safety Operations, LLC