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Jubail United Petrochemical Company (United) United Olefins Complex Project Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Site Safety Procedures Manual April, 2001 Page 1 of 4

80.

HYDROGEN SULFIDE H2S A. GENERAL This policy and procedure provide guidelines to Contractor to minimize occupational exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide and meet the requirements of the OSHA Hazard Communication and Process Safety Management Standards 29 CFR 1910.1200 and CFR 1910.119. Contractor shall comply with procedure and make all documentation and records available to owner upon request. This policy applies to projects where exposures to Hydrogen Sulfide can occur. B. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 1. Exposure Limits Threshold Limit Value (TLV) 10.0 PPM, 14 mg/m3 TWA Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) 15.0 PPM, 21 mg/m3

C.

METHODS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE Engineering and Work Practices Controls Where feasible, hydrogen sulfide exposures should be controlled through engineering controls and work practices. Respirators should be used to control exposures that are intermittent or caused by emergency conditions and while awaiting engineering controls to be implemented. Respiratory Protection Respiratory Protection will be worn as outlined below: H2S Concentration Unknown (i.e., no air sampling information and/or emergency response for a release) Less than 10.0 PPM Greater than or equal to 10.0 PPM Respirator* Full Face Supplied Air with escape SCBA None required Full Face supplied Air with escape SCBA Cartridge Not applicable

Not applicable

When self-contained breathing apparatus is used in operations where known or potential concentrations of hydrogen sulfide levels reach or exceed levels which are

7 June, 2001
80-Hydrogen-Sulfide.doc

GENERAL SITE CONDITIONS AND SAFETY PROCEDURES Page 1 of 4 Hydrogen Sulfides (H2S)

Jubail United Petrochemical Company (United) United Olefins Complex Project Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Site Safety Procedures Manual April, 2001 Page 2 of 4

immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH), two or more standby persons must be present and equipped with the appropriate Personal Protective and rescue equipment. Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) When liquids or vapors containing hydrogen sulfide are present, additional PPE i.e., chemical suites, gloves, boots, etc. will be used. D. EMPLOYEE TRAINING All employees working in areas with potential hydrogen sulfide exposures must be properly trained. Training will be conducted upon initial employment and repeated annually. Employees must receive additional training if there is a change in or addition of a process or operation that creates the potential for exposure. The project Safety department is responsible for tracking and maintaining employee-training records. Training will include the specific hazards and symptoms of hydrogen sulfide H2S, safe work practices, Personal Protective Equipment, Contractor and Owner Emergency Procedures. The following hazard information shall be included: Hydrogen sulfide is a very common air contaminant, found in oil and gas fields and refineries i.e., Drilling Operations, recycled drilling mud, water from sour crude wells, bow outs, tank gauging, field maintenance, tank batteries and wells, processes and process streams etc. Inhalation is the common route by which hydrogen sulfide enters the body. Able to pass easily from the lungs to the bloodstream, H2S can quickly kill. Exposure to as little as 600 ppm H2S in air for 30 minutes has been fatal; higher exposures can cause immediate death. Hydrogen sulfide is a neurotoxin, which means it is poisonous to nerve and brain cells. If H2S is absorbed faster or in greater quantities than the body can rid itself of it, it will build up in the blood and poison the centers in the brain, which control breathing. The lungs stop working and death due to asphyxiation results. A person can be overcome by hydrogen sulfide and lose consciousness in seconds. Much more rarely, death results not from the poisonous properties of hydrogen sulfide but from its irritant properties. If conditions are just right (low exposure levels for long periods of time). The upper respiratory tract and lungs fill with fluid in response to the irritation, in effect drowning the victim, even though poisoning of the nervous has not yet occurred. This is called pulmonary edema. Although even in low concentrations hydrogen sulfide has the distinct and disagreeable odor of rotten eggs, poisoning can occur with virtually no warning at all. This is because hydrogen sulfide in concentrations high enough to kill also quickly numbs the sense of smell.

7 June, 2001
80-Hydrogen-Sulfide.doc

GENERAL SITE CONDITIONS AND SAFETY PROCEDURES Page 2 of 4 Hydrogen Sulfides (H2S)

Jubail United Petrochemical Company (United) United Olefins Complex Project Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Site Safety Procedures Manual April, 2001 Page 3 of 4

In small doses, H2S causes a wide range of chronic effects. With low level (e.g., 10 - 100 ppm) or repeated exposures, headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting may develop, along with irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract. Respiratory symptoms include cough, pain in the nose and throat, and painful breathing. Other symptoms of chronic poisoning include slowed pulse, fatigue, insomnia, digestive disturbances, cold sweats, eye infections and weight loss. Area emergency alarms and evacuation routes, the location of emergency eye wash stations and showers and emergency phone numbers are to be included as part of the employees pre-job STA.

Physical Characteristics Odor Threshold Color Odor Molecular Weight Boiling Point @ 1 atm. Vapor Density Vapor Pressure @ 70 F Solubility in Water Lower Explosive Level Upper Explosive Level E. REGULATED AREAS Whenever airborne concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in an area or specific operation exceed or can be reasonably expected to exceed 10.0 PPM. the areas and or operations are to be identified and regulated. The project Safety Manager is responsible for contacting the Owner HSE department to ascertain area(s) or operations that exceed or have the potential to exceed 10.0 PPM level. The project Safety Manager shall identify the areas or operations on a facility plot plan. The plot plan is to be included as part of the New Hire Orientation program, Hazard Communication Program and Hydrogen Sulfide training module. To limit access to authorized personnel, the regulated area should be posted with the appropriate warning signs. Warning signs should contain the following warning: DANGER HYDROGEN SULFIDE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY 0.13 PPM Colorless Rotten egg smell at low concentrations. Rapidly deadens the sense of smell at 100 PPM. 34.08 -76.6 F 1.1895 ( air = 1 ) 252 psig 0.672 g/100 ml. water 4.3 % 45 %

7 June, 2001
80-Hydrogen-Sulfide.doc

GENERAL SITE CONDITIONS AND SAFETY PROCEDURES Page 3 of 4 Hydrogen Sulfides (H2S)

Jubail United Petrochemical Company (United) United Olefins Complex Project Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Site Safety Procedures Manual April, 2001 Page 4 of 4

Only employees trained in the hazards of hydrogen sulfide are permitted to enter a hydrogen sulfide regulated area. All personnel entering a regulated area will wear all appropriate respiratory protection and protective clothing. F. MONITORING Prior to entering the area project safety personnel and or Owner operations personnel will survey the area with air monitoring equipment. Continuous air monitoring will be conducted while employees are working in areas that have the potential to exceed established exposure levels. Monitors shall be equipped with a pre-set audible alarm that activates when levels exceed 20 PPM. Employees shall evacuate the area in the event a monitor alarm sounds. Employees are not permitted to return to the area until; the area has been deemed safe by Owner and project safety personnel. Proper respiratory and personal protective equipment has been donned and employees have reviewed and signed off on a STA form developed to address the changes in the conditions. Confined Spaces Employees shall not be permitted to enter confined spaces that contain Hydrogen Sulfide levels in excess of 10 PPM. A detailed Safety Action Plan shall be developed and approved by the Project Manager and Safety Manager for any confined space entry where Hydrogen Sulfide levels have the potential to exceed the level. The plan shall include respiratory and personal protective equipment requirements, an emergency contingency plan, roles and responsibilities, number of craft employees involved. Upon approval all employees, and supervisors involved shall attend a kick off meeting. The plan and all requirements shall be reviewed and roles and responsibilities assigned. Hydrogen Sulfide - Locations Owner will provide a list of locations where hydrogen sulfide may be found.

7 June, 2001
80-Hydrogen-Sulfide.doc

GENERAL SITE CONDITIONS AND SAFETY PROCEDURES Page 4 of 4 Hydrogen Sulfides (H2S)

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