LESSON OVERVIEW

HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERES

GAS FREE ENGINEERING

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

TESTING PROCEDURES

HOTWORK
HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERES

OXYGEN DEFICIENT
LESS THAN 19.5% OXYGEN

EXPLOSIVE
GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO 10% L.E.L.

TOXIC
GREATER THAN THE THRESHOLD VALUE
LIMIT
CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

COLORLESS, ODORLESS

DISPLACES OXYGEN IN AIR

FOUND ONBOARD AS F/F AGENT

ASPHYXIANT
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)

COLORLESS, ODORLESS

LIGHTER THAN AIR

ASPHYXIANT

EXPLOSIVE HAZARD

A PRODUCT OF INTERNAL
COMBUSTION ENGINES
 OXYGEN (O2)

HAZARD TO PERSONNEL IN ITS ABSENCE

O2 ENRICHMENT CAN BE EXPLOSIVE

21% O2 IN AIR
15% CAUSES DIZZINESS
9% CAUSES UNCONSCIOUSNESS
7% CAUSES DEATH

LACK OF O2 IN VOIDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDE (H2S)

COLORLESS

SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS

(IN SMALL CONCENTRATIONS)

RESULT OF ORGANIC MATERIAL DECAY

FOUND IN CHT SYSTEMS, REEFER DECKS,

FIREMAIN SYSTEMS, CONDENSERS, AND AFFF
SYSTEMS
 HYDROGEN (H2)

EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE AND

EXPLOSIVE

LIGHTER THAN AIR

FOUND IN BATTERY CHARGING SPACES

 METHANE

FLAMMABLE HYDROCARBON

PRESENT IN CHT SYSTEMS

COLORLESS AND ODORLESS

LIGHTER THAN AIR

 FUELS

VAPORS ARE
FLAMMABLE/EXPLOSIVE

CAUSES HEADACHES OR NAUSEA

GASOLINE / JP-5 / DFM

 ACETYLENE
USED IN WELDING OPERATIONS

GARLIC LIKE ODOR

COLORLESS

LIGHTER THAN AIR

STORED IN CYLINDERS
 FREON
COLORLESS AND ODORLESS

HEAVIER THAN AIR

ASPHYXIANT

FOUND IN REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS

WILL FORM PHOSGENE WHEN EXPOSED TO

HEAT OR OPEN FLAME
HAZARDOUS SPACES

TANKS REEFER SPACES

VOIDS IDLE BOILERS

COFFERDAMS CHT SYSTEMS

SONAR DOME PAINT STORAGE

CONDENSER BATTERY CHARGING

SPACES
HT SHOP
FUEL PUMP ROOMS
GAS FREE ENGINEERING

INCLUDES ALL TESTS AND PROCEDURES PERFORMED

BY QUALIFIED AND DESIGNATED PERSONNEL TO
ELIMINATE THE RISK OF FIRE, EXPLOSION, EXPOSURE
TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES OR ASPHYXIATION THAT MAY BE
ASSOCIATED WITH CLOSED COMPARTMENTS OR
POORLY VENTILATED SPACES

GAS FREE ENGINEER IS USUALLY THE DCA

GAS FREE PETTY OFFICERS

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

ENTERING VOIDS, TANKS ETC

SPACES INTENTIONALLY FLOODED WITH

CO2/HALON

CHT SPILLS / WORK ON CHT SYSTEM

PAINT FUMES BUILD UP

TESTING SEQUENCE

OXYGEN - O2 INDICATOR/ANALYZER

COMBUSTIBLE GASES - EXPLOSIMETER

TOXIC GASES - DRAEGER

FOUR GAS ANALYZER
SIMULTANEOUSLY TESTS FOR:

•OXYGEN
•COMBUSTIBLE GASES
•HYDROGEN SULFIDE
•CARBON MONOXIDE

(OXYGEN MUST BE WITHIN ACCEPTABLE

RANGE IN ORDER TO ACCEPT
OTHER THREE CONCURRENT TESTS
AS ACCURATE)
 HOTWORK

ANY FIRE OR SPARK PRODUCING

OPERATION, INCLUDING SOURCES OF
FLAME, SPARKS OR INTENSE HEAT

WELDING
BRAZING
GRINDING
GAS FREE CERTIFICATE
NOT SAFE FOR PERSONNEL/NOT SAFE FOR HOTWORK

NOT SAFE FOR PERSONNEL WITHOUT PROTECTION/

NOT SAFE FOR HOTWORK

SAFE FOR PERSONNEL/NOT SAFE FOR HOTWORK

SAFE FOR PERSONNEL/SAFE FOR HOTWORK

NOT SAFE FOR PERSONNEL INSIDE/SAFE FOR

HOTWORK OUTSIDE

NOT SAFE FOR HOTWORK

LESSON OVERVIEW

HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERES

GAS FREE ENGINEERING

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

TESTING PROCEDURES

HOTWORK