NEWSWATCH​
OIL AND GAS
Hazard Alert Stresses Proper Use of Multi-gas Monitors in Oil and Gas Operations
A new hazard alert developed through OSHA’s alliance with NIOSH and the National Service, Transmission, Exploration and Production Safety (STEPS) Network is intended to help workers in the oil and gas industry understand the proper use and capabilities of multi-gas monitors. Potential workplace hazards associated with oil and gas operations include flammable gases and vapors, oxygen-deficient atmospheres, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. A properly calibrated multi-gas monitor can alert workers to unsafe conditions even if multiple atmospheric hazards occur at the same time, according to the alert. Workers must have the right monitor for the application, and they must respond to all alarms by evacuating the area immediately until the space is deemed safe to re-enter. The hazard alert notes that some monitors may need a sample pump to remotely sample potentially hazardous areas, including confined spaces, prior to entry or beginning hot work.  Download a
PDF
of the hazard alert from the STEPS Network website. The National STEPS Network is an all-volunteer organization comprising safety and health professionals in the oil and gas industry. More information on OSHA’s alliance with NIOSH and the STEPS Network is available
online
.