The Del Rio Company supplies high quality gas detection instruments from industry leaders, such as Industrial Scientific. In your world, gas detection is critical for safe and legal operations. However, your business is as unique as the work you do. So we’re producing this series of articles as a resource for navigating gas detection solutions. We know that one size does not fit all. Let us help figure out the solution for you!
Let’s talk heat.
Do you work with burning, welding, using fire- or spark-producing tools? OSHA says that hot work is anything that involves a source of ignition. Hot work presents the tangible risk of fire, explosion and burns. You know better than to mess around with that! So how can you protect your staff and your work?
Pre-Work Hazard Assessment
A pre-work hazard assessment is critical to the safety of a work environment. In most cases, a permit is required to ensure that the assessment has been issued.
To perform the assessment, you must test for all potentially flammable and combustible materials before work begins. Determine what levels are present in the environment. You will need a gas pump to draw air samples, complete with sample tubing.
According to Industrial Scientific, “following the 2×2 rule, you can use these aspirated instruments to find out the type and concentration of gas hazards in the space. The sensor configuration would depend on the types of hazards you may encounter.”
Continuous Monitoring
Once work begins, the area still must continue to be monitored throughout the job. This is because conditions are continuously changing, such as gas concentrations, wind direction, and ambient temperature. Even a subtle change in these variables could be hazardous. The rest of this article will describe considerations for monitoring a work environment.
Considerations for Hot Work
Multi-Gas Monitoring
Look for equipment that has a broad sensor selection, allowing for the detection of multiple gases. The activity of hot work can change oxygen levels in the area throughout a project. A gas detector with a standard four-gas configuration is your best option for personal safety while in a hot work environment.
Intrinsic Safety
Due to the nature of hot work, all gas detectors must be intrinsically safe in order to be effective. Otherwise, there is a risk of the equipment malfunctioning and failing to do its job. All gas detectors from The Del Rio Company are made by Industrial Scientific and are intrinsically safe.
Digital Permit Generation
Job Hazard Assessment (JHA) is mandatory in most circumstances. There is actually equipment available that can help ensure required forms and permits are completed correctly each time. You can avoid old school paper permits by digitally completing your paperwork and automating your systems.
The Del Rio Company works with the best suppliers in the industry to provide products that are of the highest quality and highest service to our clients. We work with Industrial Scientific, an industry leader, to provide gas detecting equipment. Call us at (225) 756-7092 to discuss what type of instrumentation best meets your needs. Our experienced and expert team will help you find the specific products that meet your unique needs.
