Chemical Tankers / Day 5 / Day 5 Topic 2 Gas & Safety Equipment
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Chemical Training
Safety & Gas Detection Equipment
Gas Detection Equipment
Gas detection equipment – general
The provision and use of vapour detection equipment is required by the IMO Codes for a number of functions, including:
Detecting cargo vapour in air, inert gas, or the vapour of another cargo
Measuring concentrations of gas in or near the flammable range
Measuring concentrations of oxygen in inert gas or cargo vapour, or in enclosed spaces
Gas Detection Equipment
Gas detection equipment is only as effective as the operator using it
Often even the procedures outlined in the manufacturers operations manual are difficult to understand (Agree?)
The following is a real example of where a lack of understanding of the equipment could have led to a serious accident…
Gas Detection Equipment
Movie
Gas Detection Equipment
Thought for the day! – Possible Loss of Life?
During an audit the auditor noted that the C/O had recently used the multi-gas meter. The C/O told the auditor that he had been using the machine to test ballast and fresh water tanks as the crew had been engaged in tank cleaning.
The C/O informed the auditor that the instrument was capable of measuring oxygen, CO2, CO, H2S, etc. citing the manufacturers manual. The manual indicated the full range of gases the machine was capable of detecting.
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Gas Detection Equipment
The auditor told the C/O that the machine was only capable of detecting the various gases indicated in the manual provided that the appropriate module was installed. The machine had in fact been configured as an explosimeter only capable of measuring Hydrocarbon volume and LEL.
The C/O had meter reading records indicating that he checked the level of oxygen and CO2 prior to the crew entering each tank.
The C/O was shocked to discover that his error had put himself and his crew in danger.
Gas Detection Equipment
Ignorance of the individual meter functions and calibration routines is still common
Even more disturbing is the occasional lack of knowledge displayed by junior tanker officers who reportedly have undertaken shore based training
Gas Detection Equipment
General
Gas detection equipment is required for ensuring spaces are safe for entry, work, or other operations. Their uses include the detection of:
Cargo vapour in air, inert gas or the vapour of another cargoConcentrations of gas in or near the flammable rangeConcentrations of inert gas, cargo vapour in enclosed spacesToxic gases
Gas Detection Equipment
Instruments must always be checked, zeroed and spanned where applicable before every use as per the manufacturers instructions