If you work in an environment that exposes you to potentially hazardous gases, you need to invest heavily in gas detection systems. Gas detection and monitoring are really important, especially in the workplace. Some gases are hazardous to the human body, and thus, when you inhale them too much, you may begin to develop complications. Some of them may even cause explosions if their concentration gets too high. Investing in gas detection and monitoring device is a control measure, to protect you against potential danger. Helio Gas Detection systems help detect dangerous levels of gas and allow you to take appropriate action before an explosion or injury occurs. If you want to keep your commercial safe space safe and protect your employees, you need reliable gas monitoring and detection units. Humans may not have the ability to detect some of the gases, especially when they are too busy with their routine. Therefore, it is important to have tools that will help you detect the gases and keep your property safe. Read on to learn more about gas detection and monitoring.
What Is The Difference Between Gas Detector And Gas Monitoring System?
Gas Detector
The work of a gas detector is to alert you if there is gas present in your location. It is a device that is part of a greater alarm system that sends a warning to everyone, to leave the building, signalling that there is a potential danger. Gas detectors are important in places with dangerous chemicals and gas emissions. Some are portable because they allow you to move them around in a high-risk area to determine and alert you on the concentration of gases. There are also fixed gas detectors mounted in a place that is likely to experience concentrations of dangerous gas leaks. Gas detectors come in different sizes and types and hence give you an option when you want to purchase. You can either choose from the ultrasonic system to infrared systems. They detect oxygen depletion levels, flammable, toxic, and combustible gases.
Gas Monitor
A gas monitor differs from a gas detector in various ways. Monitors are portable in that they allow your employees to even clip them onto their uniforms in an area that is suspected of having gas emissions. Most of the gas monitors are usually made for personal use, and thus, they hugely benefit the employees. While some will mainly monitor one particular gas such as carbon monoxide, others can detect more than one. Because of their ease of use and light nature, many employers prefer them because employees can carry them around as they work. Gas monitors are wireless, whereas most gas detectors are not. It is important to understand the difference between the two to be able to provide a safe environment for your employees.
How Can You Ensure That Yours Gas Detection And Monitoring System Is Functioning?
To ensure that the gas detection and monitoring unit in your workplace is functioning well, you need to perform proper maintenance of the gas detection devices, every once in a while. Failure to do this will put your property and employees in danger when the devices fail to detect the gases and give an alert. You should never rely on your sense of smell for gas detection, as this is a huge risk. First, you cannot detect hazardous gases through smell, and even if you do, it might be too late. Below are some of the reasons to do the proper maintenance of your gas detection devices.
Reduces Explosion
Lack of a functioning gas detection system could put your workers’ lives at risk. For example, if too much carbon dioxide is released from the engine, it may find its way and settle into a hole due to its heavy nature. Also, too much CO2 crowds out the oxygen level and limits the amount of oxygen your employees need to breathe. Gas detectors are useful because they detect the high levels of carbon dioxide and alert you in advance.
Allow Smooth Operation
When your gas detectors are properly maintained, you can understand your job site better, which allows you to plan with the right safety equipment and protocols. Following the protocols and ensuring that everything is in check as far as safety equipment is concerned ensures production is efficient. It also reduces downtime, which occurs a lot if you constantly have gas threats and incidents arising from the same. Updated systems that run in real life allow the safety managers to respond to any gas-related incidents in time and more effectively. When it comes to safety, you need to ensure that you can address the potential problem within the shortest time possible, to minimise any risks.
Protect Workers Health
The other reason you need to ensure that your gas detectors and monitors work properly is that you don’t want to expose your workers to the toxic gases. Inhaling the dangerous gases is harmful because it puts the health of the workers at risk. You always need to know the exact concentration of oxygen in the work station before you send workers in. Oxygen deficiency will occur if an area has less than 19.5% oxygen. Too much oxygen is also dangerous if the levels are above 23.5%. It is important to know the parts per million of hazards as this will help you determine any potential dangers.
Continuous Monitoring
The good thing about having a functional gas detection system is that it allows you to do continuous monitoring, which is a very important safety procedure. When you continuously monitor all the areas, you are assured of the safety of your employees and property. Anytime you are able to detect hazardous gases in advance, it becomes easier for you to reduce the safety risks at work. You will also manage to satisfy the criteria on your insurance policy. Besides, when you monitor the amount of gases in your environment, it becomes easier for you to tell when there is a high chance of explosion or asphyxiation.
Reasons Your Gas Detectors May Not Be Working
Environmental Factors
Sometimes, you may notice that some of the gas detection instruments are not functioning properly. This could be because they have accumulated a lot of dust, dirt, or water from the environment. When dust or dirt accumulates in the detection instruments, it blocks gases and vapours from entering the sensor chamber. This means that if there is danger, it may be hard for you to get any signals, which could result in an explosion. Also, storing the instruments in a very cold or hot environment may affect the sensor’s ability to give accurate results.
Gas Exposure
When there is too much gas exposure, the calibration curve of the sensors may cause you to obtain inaccurate or false readings. Extremely high concentrations of the gas can kill the sensor’s ability to measure and detect gas. The unfortunate thing is that some sensors fail without giving any warning. Some will even indicate a zero on the metre reading, suggesting that they are working correctly, while in a real sense, they are not. In other cases, the sensors can get poisoned by other gases that find their way into the sensor chamber and react with the electrical electrode catalyst. If there is an electrochemical sensor poisoning, it means that your gas detection system is faulty.
Gas detection and monitoring are important in the workplace. You want to ensure that you provide your employees with a safe working environment. Ensure your gas detection and monitoring instruments are well maintained at all times.
You May Also Like:
The Need For Structural Movement Monitoring
Top 3 Best Practices for Efficient Network Monitoring
Choosing the Right Company to Provide Safety Training For Your Toronto Business
The Basics of Personal Injury Claims You Need to Know Before Taking Up a Construction Job
4 Tips to Improve Health and Safety at Your Workplace