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UER Forum > UE Main > H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines (Viewed 4013 times)
Sebk 


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H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< on 5/7/2020 6:05 PM >
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Figured Id make post about my close encounter with h2s. I was exploring a mine and wanted to try and get to the bottom shallow mine shaft. It was probably only 20ft deep. I own a h2s monitor for work, but also take it with me when exploring really anything underground. Anyway I lowered the detector down the shaft and once it got close to the bottom the alarm started blaring. My specific gas detector has a memory function for maximum exposure. It had indicated that the concentration of h2s was too high for my monitor to measure accurately. So I would have most likely have been seriously injured or possibly dead if I didnt check the air quality first. At the opening I couldn't smell the telltale rotten egg smell of h2s. H2s is serious stuff. Its something not to be messed with as theres no respirator filters made for continuous exposure, only escaping an area. Its naturally produced from decaying organic matter. To make an already extremely toxic gas even worse its flammable. Ive had to sit threw countless hours of training about h2s and its super scary stuff. If you smell rotten eggs leave as quickly as possible, however in higher concentrations you wont smell it. Just pass out and possibly die. The only way to protect yourself from h2s is with a supplied air system. My specific gas detector is made by msa and monitors o2 content, h2s as well as co and flammable gasses. It cost around 600 dollars but my company buys them by the case for its employees. Be safe everyone.




Furious D 


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The Night Time is the Right Time

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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 1 on 5/7/2020 9:49 PM >
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I worked in the oil patch for 6 years and was around the stuff a lot. I'm really thankful I'm not anymore. I once worked on a gas well called the "widow maker" because nine people were killed there in two separate incidents.

The stuff is nasty. It can even sit dormant in puddles of water and mud, only to be released when you kick it up.

While I don't explore underground, I would definitely have a gas monitor if I did.. not only for H2S, but 02 concentration, LEL % and CO ppm.




"The time of getting fame for your name on its own is over. Artwork that is only about wanting to be famous will never make you famous. Fame is a by-product of doing something else. You don't go to a restaurant and order a meal because you want to have a shit."
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Samurai 

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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 2 on 5/8/2020 3:02 AM >
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i worked in a paper mill for eleven years at the back end, the chemical plant part of it... H2S was a constant threat. Well, that and chlorine dioxide. I think I still have my cricket from work. I retired in 2016, so I am sure the batteries are dead.




Deuterium 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 3 on 5/8/2020 7:22 AM >
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Posted by Sebk
Its something not to be messed with as theres no respirator filters made for continuous exposure.


The only way to protect yourself from h2s is with a supplied air system.

You said your monitor maxed out, but that doesn't mean much without telling the limit value.

"If H2S levels are below 100 ppm, an air-purifying respirator may be used, assuming the filter cartridge/canister is appropriate for hydrogen sulfide. A full facepiece respirator will prevent eye irritation." cited from: https://www.osha.g...n_sulfide_fact.pdf
I would trust it given the source.

A respirator with correct cartridges like the 3M 6001 acid gas type gives you protection at a level that's considered a serious health hazard, and this assumption is for people repeatedly working eight hour shifts through it. It should be fine for exploration. You still have to watch for low O2 and high Co2 level which can cause asphyxiation.





Radio2600 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 4 on 5/8/2020 1:03 PM >
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There was a gilsonite mine that I worked in many years ago that could inject H2S into the ventilation system to serve as the evacuation alarm.





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Furious D 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 5 on 5/8/2020 7:28 PM >
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Posted by Deuterium



You said your monitor maxed out, but that doesn't mean much without telling the limit value.

"If H2S levels are below 100 ppm, an air-purifying respirator may be used, assuming the filter cartridge/canister is appropriate for hydrogen sulfide. A full facepiece respirator will prevent eye irritation." cited from: https://www.osha.g...n_sulfide_fact.pdf
I would trust it given the source.

A respirator with correct cartridges like the 3M 6001 acid gas type gives you protection at a level that's considered a serious health hazard, and this assumption is for people repeatedly working eight hour shifts through it. It should be fine for exploration. You still have to watch for low O2 and high Co2 level which can cause asphyxiation.




Some of the job sites I used to work at had 30% H2S concentration through the wells. That's 300,000 ppm. 10-15 ppm is the OHSA ceiling limit at which you don't need protection. 100 ppm can be fatal. On a gas well, even stepping in the wrong ditch or puddle can cause the concentration to jump from 10 to 1,000 ppm in the blink of an eye. We only used supplied air packs with positive pressure in a full face mask. I have never heard of anyone using a canister respirator for H2S work, but maybe in some environments where the concentration is controlled and you have consistent air flow I could imagine it. Where I worked a filter canister system would be absolutely useless.

Not sure what a mine site would be like, but a canister mask might give you some extra time to get away. I would absolutely not stay if the gas monitor goes off. If it's buzzing, you gotta bounce.

Also, keeping the monitor low, like putting it by your knee, can give you a better chance of detecting H2S, which is heavier than air. It also keeps it away from your face, where your breath can cause it to go off occasionally for low O2.




"The time of getting fame for your name on its own is over. Artwork that is only about wanting to be famous will never make you famous. Fame is a by-product of doing something else. You don't go to a restaurant and order a meal because you want to have a shit."
-Banksy
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Sebk 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 6 on 5/9/2020 12:43 AM >
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Posted by Deuterium



You said your monitor maxed out, but that doesn't mean much without telling the limit value.

"If H2S levels are below 100 ppm, an air-purifying respirator may be used, assuming the filter cartridge/canister is appropriate for hydrogen sulfide. A full facepiece respirator will prevent eye irritation." cited from: https://www.osha.g...n_sulfide_fact.pdf
I would trust it given the source.

A respirator with correct cartridges like the 3M 6001 acid gas type gives you protection at a level that's considered a serious health hazard, and this assumption is for people repeatedly working eight hour shifts through it. It should be fine for exploration. You still have to watch for low O2 and high Co2 level which can cause asphyxiation.




Im pretty sure it will read up to 100ppm, so it could have been 101ppm or upwards of 1000ppm. I've only ever hired of cartridge filters being uses to escape h2s, not work in it. I could be wrong however I wouldn't feel comfortable using cartridge filters to explore in an atmosphere with h2s as the maximum exposure levels are very low for such s toxic gas and see no need to expose my self to something I have a chance of being exposed to at work. I feel the more times you encounter h2s the more of a chance of something going wrong with your ppe. It's also a lot different when I'm at work and there's some form of on-site medical or at least a close hospital as supposed to 3hrs from a hospital. I do know that any time someone has to go into a location to do work at a refinery or any other industrial plant they use supplied air full face masks. Personally id rather be safe than sorry and just not deal with h2s to begin with as Its very dangerous.




Sebk 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 7 on 5/9/2020 12:54 AM >
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Posted by Radio2600
There was a gilsonite mine that I worked in many years ago that could inject H2S into the ventilation system to serve as the evacuation alarm.




Wow, that's interesting. That seems like a slippery slope. I know h2s becomes dangerous really quickly. Do you remember what years the mine was operational? I'm curious if this method is still used anywhere.




Sebk 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 8 on 5/9/2020 1:05 AM >
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Posted by Furious D


Some of the job sites I used to work at had 30% H2S concentration through the wells. That's 300,000 ppm. 10-15 ppm is the OHSA ceiling limit at which you don't need protection. 100 ppm can be fatal. On a gas well, even stepping in the wrong ditch or puddle can cause the concentration to jump from 10 to 1,000 ppm in the blink of an eye. We only used supplied air packs with positive pressure in a full face mask. I have never heard of anyone using a canister respirator for H2S work, but maybe in some environments where the concentration is controlled and you have consistent air flow I could imagine it. Where I worked a filter canister system would be absolutely useless.

Not sure what a mine site would be like, but a canister mask might give you some extra time to get away. I would absolutely not stay if the gas monitor goes off. If it's buzzing, you gotta bounce.

Also, keeping the monitor low, like putting it by your knee, can give you a better chance of detecting H2S, which is heavier than air. It also keeps it away from your face, where your breath can cause it to go off occasionally for low O2.


I specifically remember a safety video I had to watch and one of the scenarios was about a guy who fell into a ditch on his way to lunch trying to take a short cut to his truck and died. Not sure if it was real, but I assume it was as most of those safety videos are about an actual incident. I know I was told h2s cartridge filters where for escaping a contaminated area not prolonged exposure. I just assume not mess with the stuff on my free time as its scary stuff. I feel the risk of h2s outweighs the reward of whatever it is your exploring no matter how cool or unique it is and I'm not about to lug around a bunch of supplied air gear on my time off.




Furious D 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 9 on 5/9/2020 11:29 AM >
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Posted by Sebk


...a guy who fell into a ditch on his way to lunch trying to take a short cut to his truck and died. Not sure if it was real, but I assume it was...


It's absolutely real. I've had a monitor go off and had to evacuate because I stepped in a puddle of water near a gas well that was purged and tested to be safe.




"The time of getting fame for your name on its own is over. Artwork that is only about wanting to be famous will never make you famous. Fame is a by-product of doing something else. You don't go to a restaurant and order a meal because you want to have a shit."
-Banksy
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uLiveAndYouBurn 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 10 on 5/9/2020 5:11 PM >
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They're closing coal fired power plants all over the country and from what I've seen they've been leaving a pair of SCBA rigs outside the control room of every single one. For information purposes only




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Vehicular Lord Rick


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 11 on 5/10/2020 8:35 AM >
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when you're farting around in old industrial sites that were powerplants or paper mills, you have to remember that H2S settles in low places and kind of hangs around for a bit. International Paper lost twelve people in a mill in Alabama a few years back due to ONE employee walking into a 'pool' of hydrogen sulfide. None of them were wearing warning apparatus and the alarms in the area had not been calibrated properly or just plain didn't work.






Aran 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 12 on 5/10/2020 6:07 PM >
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Posted by Samurai
when you're farting around in old industrial sites that were powerplants or paper mills, you have to remember that H2S settles in low places and kind of hangs around for a bit. International Paper lost twelve people in a mill in Alabama a few years back due to ONE employee walking into a 'pool' of hydrogen sulfide. None of them were wearing warning apparatus and the alarms in the area had not been calibrated properly or just plain didn't work.






How long does it stick around until it disperses enough to become a non-issue?




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urbX360 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 13 on 5/10/2020 8:36 PM >
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Glad I read your post. I was totally unaware of dangers we could find in mines, especially invisible ones. Thank you very much for taking the time to write about this to warn us.




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Sebk 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 14 on 5/10/2020 10:41 PM >
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Posted by Aran



How long does it stick around until it disperses enough to become a non-issue?


Its just heavy gas, so id imagine it would sit there indefinitely unless there was wind or some sort of ventilation to move it somewhere els.




Sebk 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 15 on 5/10/2020 10:43 PM >
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Posted by urbX360
Glad I read your post. I was totally unaware of dangers we could find in mines, especially invisible ones. Thank you very much for taking the time to write about this to warn us.


Happy I could educate and potentially save least one person. That's the whole reason I stated this thread. Stay safe.




Samurai 

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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 16 on 5/11/2020 7:45 AM >
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Posted by Aran



How long does it stick around until it disperses enough to become a non-issue?


not really sure... in the environment I worked in, it didn't really hang around long and we didn't really stick around once the alarms went off. I guess it kind of depended on where there was a gas issue and what was creating that gas issue (mechanical failure or chemical spill)
.





uLiveAndYouBurn 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 17 on 5/11/2020 3:13 PM >
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Posted by Samurai
when you're farting around in old industrial sites that were powerplants or paper mills, you have to remember that H2S settles in low places and kind of hangs around for a bit. International Paper lost twelve people in a mill in Alabama a few years back due to ONE employee walking into a 'pool' of hydrogen sulfide. None of them were wearing warning apparatus and the alarms in the area had not been calibrated properly or just plain didn't work.





Oh shit now the active paper mill I've had my eye on seems even more risky, I think I'll finally pick up a gas analyzer.




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Samurai 

Vehicular Lord Rick


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No matter where you go, there you are...

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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 18 on 5/11/2020 11:15 PM >
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Posted by uLiveAndYouBurn


Oh shit now the active paper mill I've had my eye on seems even more risky, I think I'll finally pick up a gas analyzer.


not to sound like an asshole, but an active paper mill is a pretty dangerous place to go larking around on. As I said, I worked in one for 11 years, pretty much everywhere but the powerhouse. With that said, my duties in the recaust plant did take me over there from time to time. That was one of the most frightening places I have ever been in.

At the back end, you have chemicals and steam that can hurt or kill you. At the front end (paper machines, finishing and warehouse), you have steam and big heavy things getting out of control and running you over. I almost got wasted by an 81"w X 40"t roll of paper when it bounced out of the wrapping station, hit a bumpstop and bounced back at me... it weighed in at around 5000lbs. It would've been like getting run over by a truck. Anyways, just arrange a tour at the front office.




DrDeke 


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Re: H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines
< Reply # 19 on 5/14/2020 4:49 PM >
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Out of curiosity, what generates H2S in power plants?




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UER Forum > UE Main > H2s or Hydrogen Sulfide in mines (Viewed 4013 times)
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