Petroleum and gas safety alert no. 70 | 23 November 2016 | Version 1
Importance of gas detection equipment maintenance and calibration
What happened?
Gas detection equipment at operating plant and used to monitor for the presence of gas was being used outside of manufacturer’s recommendations for device calibration and bump testing.
How did it happen?
Recent inspections of gas detection and monitoring equipment found that some detectors were not being used or maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions or in line with accepted practice.
Key issues
The key issues identified during inspections included:
Irregular bump/challenge testing personal gas detectors
Insufficient calibration of personal gas detectors by an accredited test authority (every 180 days)
Not maintaining records of weekly bump/challenge testing or calibration certificates.
Recommendations
Where gas detection and monitoring equipment is used at operating plant, careful attention should be given to:
Checking equipment on a daily basis for cleanliness, power supply and ensuring it is in good working condition
Conducting regular ‘bump’ (or challenge) test by exposing personal gas detectors to a certified test gas of at least 90% of the intended set point of the equipment (as often as recommended by the manufacturer)
Arranging formal calibration every six months by an accredited test authority to verify the correct operation of sensors and alarms. The accredited test authority will issue a certificate of conformity that covers the period to the next required calibration
Ensuring all workers operating personal gas detector are appropriately trained in the operation and maintenance requirements of the equipment
Keeping resulting records of ‘bump’ (challenge) tests and formal calibration readily available for inspection.
Investigations are ongoing and further information may be published as it becomes available. The information in this publication is what is known at the time of writing.
We issue Safety Notices to draw attention to the occurrence of a serious incident, raise awareness of risks, and prompt assessment of your existing controls.
Comments
Gas detection and monitoring equipment at operating plant is critical to ensuring the safety of workers and others.
Personal gas detectors are quite reliable when used, calibrated, and maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Newer devices are able to detect up to 5 different gases including Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Sulphide.
Many operating plant now also have fixed gas detection and monitoring systems to provide continuous real-time gas analysis for a broad range of gases and exposure levels. These systems provide local alerts and information and cab even be monitored remotely by specialists.
However, personal gas detectors remain an important part of a worker’s safety equipment providing localised monitoring and alerts while also providing a redundancy for fixed systems.
References and further information
Australian Standard AS 2290.3 – 1990
Contact: Daryl Brooker, Principal Inspector , +61 7 45291356 PGAdmin@dnrm.qld.gov.au
Issued by Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Find more safety notices
Search the hazards database