Hydrogen Sulfide Awareness
Awareness training for anyone who may work where H₂S can be present, not a certification or a substitute for training to ANSI/ASSP Z390.1-2024: why hydrogen sulfide kills and why smell and unprotected rescue fail, its properties, molar mass and ppm conversions, sources in sour oil and gas, sewers, wastewater, manure storage, pulp mills and other industries, health effects from odor threshold to knockdown and the 100 ppm IDLH, ACGIH TLVs, NIOSH RELs and OSHA PELs including the 20 ppm general industry ceiling, BSEE 30 CFR 250.490 and Texas Rule 36, personal, multi-gas and fixed detectors with bump testing and calibration, positive-pressure SCBA and supplied air, controls from source treatment to briefing areas, the emergency response sequence, special situations in confined spaces, sewers, farms, trucking and vessel holds, and a capstone H₂S safety plan.
HSE-244 12 lessons · 5 h 25 min
Offered by HSM University · Safety Training
This is the American version of this course. See the Canadian version.
What you'll learn
- Explain why hydrogen sulfide kills quickly, why smell is not a reliable warning and why would-be rescuers are often among the dead.
- Use the properties of hydrogen sulfide, including molar mass, vapor density, solubility, flammability and reactivity with steel, to predict where it collects and how it is released.
- Identify hydrogen sulfide sources and release triggers in oil and gas, sewers and wastewater, agriculture, pulp and paper, tanneries, food processing, vessels and other workplaces.
- Describe the health effects of hydrogen sulfide from odor threshold to knockdown, including delayed pulmonary edema, and explain the IDLH of 100 ppm.
- Apply time-weighted average, short-term and ceiling limits, compare the ACGIH TLVs with OSHA PELs and NIOSH RELs, and describe general duties and energy regulator requirements such as BSEE 30 CFR 250.490 and Texas Rule 36.
- Select and use personal, multi-gas, area and fixed hydrogen sulfide detectors, understand sensor types, alarm types and set points, and wear personal monitors correctly.
- Perform and interpret bump tests and calibrations, maintain fixed detection systems, review datalogs and explain the limits of detection.
- Explain when positive-pressure SCBA, supplied-air breathing apparatus with escape cylinders and escape devices are used for hydrogen sulfide, and estimate SCBA air time at different work rates.
- Apply the hierarchy of controls to hydrogen sulfide, including source treatment, closed systems, ventilation, emergency shutdown, signs, wind socks, briefing areas, permits, buddy systems and lone-worker checks.
- Follow the hydrogen sulfide emergency response sequence, plan timely rescue with SCBA and describe awareness-level first aid and public protective actions.
- Recognize and control hydrogen sulfide hazards in confined spaces, sewers, manure storage, tank batteries and trucking, and vessel holds, and explain how weather affects releases.
- Develop and review a hydrogen sulfide safety plan covering inventory, controls, detection, respiratory protection, training, emergency response and records.
Course content
12 lessons · 5 h 25 min total · final exam
- 1 Why hydrogen sulfide kills 28 min · quiz
- 2 Properties of hydrogen sulfide 27 min · quiz
- 3 Where hydrogen sulfide is found 27 min · quiz
- 4 Health effects and the dose–response 27 min · quiz
- 5 Exposure limits and the law 26 min · quiz
- 6 Gas detection I: detectors, sensors and alarms 28 min · quiz
- 7 Gas detection II: bump tests, calibration and fixed monitoring 27 min · quiz
- 8 Respiratory protection for hydrogen sulfide 27 min · quiz
- 9 Safe work practices and controls 27 min · quiz
- 10 Emergency response: the hydrogen sulfide emergency 27 min · quiz
- 11 Special situations: confined spaces, sewers, farms and sour facilities 27 min · quiz
- 12 Capstone: a hydrogen sulfide safety plan 27 min · quiz
- E Final exam 20 questions
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
Awareness training for anyone who may work where H₂S can be present, not a certification or a substitute for training to ANSI/ASSP Z390.1-2024: why hydrogen sulfide kills and why smell and unprotected rescue fail, its properties, molar mass and ppm conversions, sources in sour oil and gas, sewers, wastewater, manure storage, pulp mills and other industries, health effects from odor threshold to knockdown and the 100 ppm IDLH, ACGIH TLVs, NIOSH RELs and OSHA PELs including the 20 ppm general industry ceiling, BSEE 30 CFR 250.490 and Texas Rule 36, personal, multi-gas and fixed detectors with bump testing and calibration, positive-pressure SCBA and supplied air, controls from source treatment to briefing areas, the emergency response sequence, special situations in confined spaces, sewers, farms, trucking and vessel holds, and a capstone H₂S safety plan.