Hazards of Nitrogen and Other Inert Gases

How They Can Be Safely Managed
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-394-33026-3
Verlag: Wiley

Buch, Englisch, 272 Seiten, Format (B × H): 178 mm x 254 mm, Gewicht: 689 g

An authoritative discussion of safety considerations for professionals and operators working with or around nitrogen and other inert gases

In Hazards of Nitrogen and Other Inert Gases: How They Can Be Safely Managed, experienced refinery supervisor and manager M. Darryl Yoes delivers a thorough discussion of the use of nitrogen and other inert gases in the refining industry and other industries where they are commonly used. The author includes a complete exploration of the hazards of working with and around nitrogen, as well as case studies of incidents involving nitrogen in both gas and cryogenic forms, and other inert gases, including carbon dioxide, argon, and neon.

Yoes walks readers through the most critical safety aspects of working with asphyxiants such as inert confined space entry and discusses how to avoid and prevent catastrophic incidents. The book offers self-quizzes, essential terms, key workflows, and checklists for routine practice.

Readers will also find: - A thorough background on nitrogen use and the hazards that flow from working with it
- Comprehensive explorations of incidents involving asphyxiation, hypoxia, and cold burns resulting from nitrogen (gas and liquid form) and other inert gases
- Practical discussions of the prevention of catastrophic incidents involving inert gases
- Additional discussions of other inert gases, including carbon dioxide and helium

Perfect for all operations personnel who work with or around asphyxiants, including petroleum refining and petrochemical plant operators, line supervisors, and process and mechanical engineers, this book will also benefit new operators and advanced students learning about or working with nitrogen and other inert gases.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Yoes, M Darryl

Fachgebiete

• Technische Wissenschaften Verfahrenstechnik | Chemieingenieurwesen | Biotechnologie Verfahrenstechnik, Chemieingenieurwesen
• Technische Wissenschaften Technik Allgemein Technische Zuverlässigkeit, Sicherheitstechnik
• Technische Wissenschaften Verfahrenstechnik | Chemieingenieurwesen | Biotechnologie Chemische Verfahrenstechnik
• Naturwissenschaften Chemie Chemie Allgemein Toxikologie, Gefahrstoffe, Sicherheit in der Chemie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface ix

Note to the Reader xiii

About the Author xv

1 The Properties, Uses, and Safety Hazards of Nitrogen 1

2 The Properties, Uses, and Safety Hazards of Other Inert Gases 13

2.1 Argon (Ar) 13

2.2 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 15

2.3 Carbon Monoxide (CO) 16

2.4 Helium (He) (Overview) 17

2.5 Neon (Ne) 19

2.6 Krypton (Kr) 20

2.7 Xenon (Xe) 21

2.8 Light Hydrocarbons 21

3 The Effects of Nitrogen and Other Asphyxiants on the Body (Oxygen Deprivation) 25

4 Protection for Personnel Against Inert Gas Asphyxiation and/or Cold Burns 31

4.1 Adequate Warning Signs and Barricades 31

4.2 Personnel Gas Monitors and Continuous Gas Quality Monitoring and Alarms 33

4.3 Use of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus 35

4.4 The Documented Work Permit (The Authorization for Specified Work to Begin Issued by an Authorized and Designated Individual) 36

4.5 The Union Carbide Nitrogen Asphyxiation Incident -- Date of Incident 27 March 1998 Investigated by the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Final Report Issued 23 February 1999 (Report Number 98-05-I-LA) 36

4.6 Confined Space Entry 38

4.7 Protection Against Supercold Liquids such as Liquid Nitrogen 39

5 Confined Space Entry -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Standard (29 CFR 1910.146) and Some Key OSHA 'Letters of Interpretations' 45

5.1 The US OSHA Confined Space Regulation '29 CFR 1910.146 -- Permit Required Confined Spaces' 45

5.2 Confined Space Entry Letters of Interpretation by OSHA (Standard 29 CFR 1910.146) 64

6 The Hazard of Contaminated Breathing Air and How It Can Kill 95

6.1 The Use of Utility Air or Instrument Air as Breathing Air Should Not Be Permitted 95

6.2 Fatalities Due to Using Blended or Manufactured Breathing Air 96

6.3 Requirements for Breathing Air to Ensure Quality (from the OHSA Technical Manual on Respiratory Protection) 96

6.4 Summary of OSHA Requirements for Breathing Air Quality 97

6.5 Notes from the Regulation and the OSHA Technical Manual on Respiratory Protection 97

6.6 Other Specific Requirements 98

7 Most Frequent Causes of Nitrogen Asphyxiation and How to Address Them 103

8 More on Safe Utility Connections 111

9 The Hazards of Inert Entry and an Overview of the Process (Includes Case Studies of What Has Happened) 117

9.1 Background 118

9.2 Specialized Inert Entry Procedures 119

9.3 Inert Entry Planning 120

9.4 The Job Safety Analysis 121

9.5 Acceptable Inert Atmosphere 121

9.6 Inert Gas Supply and Quality 122

9.7 Breathing Air System 122

9.8 Assuring Breathing Air Quality 125

9.9 The Contractor Selection Process 126

9.10 Life Support Equipment 127

9.11 Confined Space and Inert Entry Rescue Plan 127

9.12 Video Surveillance Equipment/Rescue Equipment 127

9.13 Reactor Preparation for Entry 128

9.14 Caution 128

9.15 Catalyst Crusting (Another Caution) 129

10 Carbon Capture, Use, and Storage 133

10.1 How is the Industry Responding to This Increase in Carbon Dioxide? 134

10.2 Safety Aspects of Carbon Capture, Use, and Storage (CCUS) 137

11 Nitrogen Asphyxiation Case Studies, and Asphyxiation by Other Inert Gases 143

11.1 What Has Happened / What Can Happen Incident Case Study Number 1 -- Nitrogen Asphyxiation 144

11.2 What Has Happened / What Can Happen Incident Case Study Number 2 -- Nitrogen Asphyxiation 148

11.3 What Has Happened / What Can Happen Incident Case Study Number 3 -- Argon Asphyxiation 152

11.4 What Has Happened / What Can Happen Incident Case Study Number 4 -- Argon Asphyxiation 155

11.5 What Has Happened / What Can Happen Incident Case Study Number 5 -- Carbon Dioxide Asphyxiation 159

11.6 What Has Happened / What Can Happen Incident Case Study Number 6 -- Low Oxygen Content (Asphyxiation) 160

11.7 What Has Happened / What Can Happen Incident Case Study Number 7 -- Employee Dies due to Asphyxiation from Oxygen Displacement 161

11.8 What Has Happened / What Can Happen Incident Case Study Number 8 -- An Explosion Occurred While Unloading Liquid Nitrogen at an Ice Cream Facility

(10 Injured) 163

11.9 What Has Happened / What Can Happen Incident Case Study Number 9 -- Fatality of Welder in Confined Space Welding in the Presence of Argon 163

11.10 What Has Happened / What Can Happen Incident Case Study Number 10 -- A Summary of Incidents Involving 'Would-be Rescuers' 164

12 Summary of Additional Actions to Help Prevent Asphyxiation Incidents at Our Facilities 171

13 Additional Discussion of Liquid Nitrogen Use in Ice Cream Shops 175

End of Book Quiz 181

Appendices: 185

1 Answers to the End of Chapter Quizzes 185

2 Answers to the End of Book Quiz 215

3 Documented Incidents Involving Nitrogen Resulting in Fatalities or

Serious Injury 219

Index 251

Über Autor(innen)

M. Darryl Yoes is an experienced refinery supervisor and manager with over fifty years’ experience in the industry. He is a process safety management consultant for refining and petrochemical plants, as well as a construction safety management consultant for major construction projects around the US. Mr. Yoes is the author of Process Operations Safety: The What, Why, and How Behind Safe Petrochemical Plant Operations, published by Wiley (2025).