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Technical Reprint TR-001

 

Sierra Monitor Corp. 1991 Tarob Ct., Milpitas, California 95035 USA 408-262-6611,  800-727-4377 FAX: 408-262-9042 
Visit our Web Site at:  http://www.sierramonitor.com E-Mail: 

[email protected] 

To minimize risks, a plant-wide gas monitoring system must meet the specific needs of 
the facility in terms of system inputs and outputs and data acquisition. 

 

Plant-Wide Gas Monitoring for Risk Control 

 
 

as monitoring has become an integral part of many environmental protection and safety programs.  Because of 
increased attention to risks posed by gas, systems that simply annunciate an alarm condition are no longer 
adequate.  Gas monitoring programs now comprise employee training, data analysis, multiple alarm strategies, 

self-diagnostic system verification, and documentation.  Data communication has also become a fundamental 
component of system design and operation as well.  And finally, environmental factors help guide the program 
selection process. 

GAS MONITORING RATIONALE 

Gas Monitoring is an integral part of environmental protection and safety programs. There are three major 
categories of hazardous gases.  

Combustible gases

 pose a risk to personnel and facilities through fire or explosion..  

Oxygen displacing gases 

deplete workers'

 

oxygen supply in confined spaces.  

Toxic gases

 create both immediate 

and long term risks to personnel.  Toxic gases are those OSHA and other organizations have defined as hazardous to 
human health.  They are typically monitored both below and above the threshold limit value (TLV).  TLV is an 
8-hour time weighted average concentration that is the highest value acceptable as a safe working environment.  
System design requirements such as the number of sensors required, sensor placement, and system alarm levels will 
vary according to the type of gas. 

A properly designed gas risk management program can reduce risk. A successful program needs to first, identify the 
hazards at the facility, then assess the risk of a hazardous event to the plant, personnel, the community and the 
environment. Next, the program needs to comply with insurance, legal and regulatory requirements. Also, liabilities 
and financial risks need to be evaluated. Finally, the program must incorporate company safety philosophies. 

Through such a program you can reduce the risks associated with hazardous gas leaks at your facility. Sierra 
Monitor offers products that provide critical data to prompt corrective action before a minor leak becomes a major 
event. Information can be retrieved from the equipment display, printed locally or recorded by a computer. This 
information aids in evaluating potential hazards in relation to operating practices. 

Insurance

R equirem ents

C om pany

Philosophy

R isk  to

Personnel

R isk  to

Environm ent

R isk  to

Facility

H azard Identification &

A ssessm ent

C ontrol  System

C apability/C ost

Tradeoffs

Law s &

R egulations

Decision,

C ontrol Strategy,

System  Selection

Financial

R isks

Liability

R is k   R e d u c tio n

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