Truck driver almost killed by H2S

Slide show of an accident investigation where the driver of the tanker truck was almost killed by deadly H2S gases in the atmosphere while filling his tank.

See http://tinyurl.com/3a2sx5 for high quality download.

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• worksafebc
• oilGas
• primaryResources

[freightmaster2]

you never get to old to learn something new.thanks for sharing.

[rzkesp]

I have to wear H2S monitors when I go into many customer facilities.

Actually, as an field electrical engineer, I am not allowed to even have facial hair because of the regulations on being able to get the masks on 100% tight. That is how serious this stuff is. o.o

[dougspair]

..H2S..Hydrogen Sulphide...almost the same as the stuff that comes out of volcanos...kinda like breathing sulfuric acid...

[hpmacmurray]

the driller and the well owner knew there was H2S.Driver had to know there was H2S.

Without an operator to tell you its safe to load-dont load.That might get you fired but you can get a beer and watch tv while they bury somebody else.

[adriantween584]

@monky19 Hydrogen sulfide is produced by decaying matter. It's in sewage, landfills and other places including our body. Not using oil could help, but we would never be rid of hydrogen sulfide.

[nucleochemist]

In response to some comments... H2S can smell like rotten eggs at some concentrations. However, a certain % of the population can not smell this gas at any concentration, and furthermore those who are around low concentrations of H2S for periods of time can eventually become desensitized to it.

[Hadsatriani]

@rzkesp umm well if you live in B.C,Alberta,Sask or manitoba ya know how deadly it is!!! and every one has to shave

[lexichronicle2]

If a H2S alarm goes off, you are safer holding your breath than breathing in.

[lexichronicle2]

@Kennaki People can hold their breath for about 10-> 15 minutes because the blood still has oxygen left in it and is circulating. It takes about 2-4 minutes for the body to a reach a state of no return once you're heart stops and the cells are left without oxygen entirely. You'll pass out almost instantly in high concentrations of H2S, about 2-4 minutes later you'll have brain damage or be dead. Pull someone out quickly, they'll be fine; but you may also pass out in the process.

[lexichronicle2]

@meetthefocker2 H2S is only toxic in the short term, because it blocks metabolism. But our bodies can remove it quite easily (unlike nerve agents). Provided you pull someone into fresh air and perhaps support their breathing, they'll wake up and be fine. H2S is going through clinical trials for life support. By cooling a severely injured patient down at and injecting them with a measured dose of H2S, the metabolism that'd ruin their body in the mean time is halt so they can travel to surgery.

[lexichronicle2]

@rzkesp it is certainly serious stuff. I have made my own benzene (carcinogenic) and used other gases like Cl2 and HCl routinely. H2S is really one of the nasties; you know something's bad when it's more toxic than hydrogen cyanide. And yeah... even if you don't need a 100% perfect mask seal, any kind of face fuzz makes the masks itch like a bastard! Ironically, H2S is also good at SAVING lives provided it's dosed by someone who really knows what they're doing.

[methanbreather]

@meetthefocker2 because the gas was blown away and he got some fresh air?

Luck - nothing else.