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Professional Safety Services (UK) Ltd are a confined space equipment specialist supplier, supporting many customers with all confined space safety equipment and training. This includes an ability to calibrate and repair particular lifesaving equipment on behalf of manufacturers.
“Toxic gas and oxygen deficiency detectors are commonly used throughout the workplace to warn of potentially harmful exposure to personnel, and of dangerous gas leaks. The detectors employed to perform these tasks are personal (worn in the breathing zone, eg on the upper lapel), portable (typically hand-held or worn on a belt) and fixed (typically connected to a control and warning system). Carbon monoxide alarms are also employed in domestic premises to warn of carbon monoxide leaks.
There are several principal regulations that are concerned, either solely or in part, with preventing, controlling or mitigating the effects of exposure to toxic gases/vapours. Gas detectors and their associated alarms play a role in controlling exposure. The relevant regulations with their approved codes of practice include:
COSHH Regulations and Approved Code of Practice. The central requirements are: o regulation 6(1) – carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health of your employees and any other person who may be affected by your work, if they are exposed to substances hazardous to health; o regulation 7(1) – ensure that exposure is prevented or, when this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled; o COSHH Approved Code of Practice states that monitoring is required when:
- failure or deterioration of the control measures could result in a serious health effect;
- when measurement is needed to ensure a WEL or any self-imposed (in-house) working standard is not exceeded; or
- as an additional check on the effectiveness of any control measures provided in accordance with regulation 7, and always in the case of the substances or processes specified in Schedule 5 to the Regulations;
- when any change occurs in the conditions affecting employees’ exposure which could mean that adequate control is no longer being maintained.
Confined Spaces Regulations (CSR) and Safe Work in Confined Spaces ACOP – In the Approved Code of Practice, Regulations and Guidance, testing/monitoring the atmosphere is included in the elements to consider when designing a safe system of work which may form the basis of a permit to work. For those people who must work within a confined space, this section of the ACOP covers the procedures that must be followed prior to and during entry and includes paragraphs on testing and monitoring the atmosphere. Following the risk assessment, the atmosphere may need to be tested 5 for the presence of hazardous gas or deficiency of oxygen. Regular monitoring of the atmosphere may be necessary, especially where forced ventilation is being used or where the work activity could give rise to changes in the atmosphere. Guidance is given on the techniques which can be used to test the atmosphere and specific mention is made of portable atmospheric monitoring equipment (gas detectors) and that these will need to be approved for use in flammable atmospheres.
COMAH – Safety reports must specify details of measures to limit the consequences of any major accident that may occur. Such mitigation methods may include gas detection. The HSE COMAH Technical Measures Document on Leak Detection (HSE, 2012) briefly refers to issues surrounding the detection of leaks and gases. The contributory factors for an assessor to consider concerning leak/gas detection include the types of protective devices linked to the detection systems including alarms. Also mentioned under Major Hazards, is that the Safety Report should address, amongst other items, whether the detector fails to detect in time (i.e. response time of instrument and/or response to high reading/alarm failing to prevent a major accident), and whether alarms, warning devices and protective devices fail to operate on demand.
Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 (PFEER) and the associated Approved Code and Practice and Guidance, (HSE, 1997) – Regulation 10 Detection of incidents. The duty holder shall take appropriate measures with a view to detecting fire and other events which may require emergency response, including the provision of means for detecting and recording accumulations of flammable or toxic gases.” HSE document RR973
