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Preventing Chlorine Gas Accidents While you might not realize it, the chemical chlorine and its compounds are part of almost everyone’s daily life. The water you drink, the food you eat, the medicine you take, the clothing you clean, the pool you swim in, the car you drive and thousands of other products are sanitized or manufactured with chlorine. Chlorine is found in many industrial processes, including those used to make plastics, vinyl and nylon. The electronics industry relies on chlorine in the production of microprocessors and computers. You’ll find chlorine supports the manufacture of gasoline additives, brake fluid and antifreeze, as well as popular metals such as titanium, magnesium and aluminum. How can something that is so common also be so dangerous and potentially deadly when used improperly? Chlorine gas is toxic and green-yellow in color at room temperature. It is also water-soluble. At 0.3 to 0.5 ppm, you can start to smell chlorine gas and trouble soon follows in higher concentrations. Chlorine burns the eyes, nose and throat—eventually causing bronchial inflammation, respiratory tract damage and death. Chlorine is heavier than air, which means that it remains near the ground and exposure victims need to be moved away from the contaminated environment. In World War 1, chlorine gas also was used as a weapon of mass destruction on U.S. soldiers. Accidental exposure to chlorine gas need not be deadly when the proper safety procedures and equipment are in place. Both the U.S. EPA and OSHA have strict regulations for the use of chlorine. Many accidents are preventable with the proper training and toxic gas monitoring equipment. In the workplace especially, intelligent fixed gas detection systems such as the MC600 Wall Mount Controller and the TS Series Toxic Gas Detectors can be installed to sound a warning alarm in plenty of time to evacuate fellow employees. Such systems are suitable for a wide range of industrial environments: Oil Refineries Oil refineries inject chlorine directly into stacks to reduce sulfur emissions (H2S for example) and require monitoring. The sulfur monochloride compound that forms in the stack is a solid and can drop out of the air flow in the stack and coat the inside of the stack itself, or drop down to the bottom of the stack where it can be collected. Fixed toxic gas detectors can be used to monitor potential chlorine leakage around the bulk storage tanks too. Clean Water Treatment Chlorine is added to treat drinking water to destroy bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms. It also controls algae and helps improve the taste and smell of fresh water. Chlorinating basins and well sites have small buildings enclosing chlorine storage tanks with mixing systems. Fans provide a ventilation system, with gas detectors installed for monitoring and alarm purposes in case of a system leak. Sewage Wastewater For neutralization of effluent, a complete (Cl2) chlorination system is often used at waste treatment facilities. Toxic gas detectors are used to detect chlorine gas at these locations: the chlorine tanks, the chlorine dosing pump, the chlorine mixer and the sampling area. Pharmaceuticals Production Most prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals contain or are manufactured with chlorine. Some of the more common medications that are made using chlorine include pain relievers, decongestants, antihistamines and antibiotics. Toxic gas detectors are utilized both within the areas where pharmaceuticals are processed, as well as in storage tank areas. Pulp/Paper Bleaching Bleaching of pulp is a series of chemical reactions conducted in stages. These reactions are carefully controlled to bleach the pulp without destroying the strength of the fiber. Chlorine gas and water are added to the eductor prior to the mixing stage. Toxic gas detectors can be used to monitor for chlorine gas leakage during the bleaching process. Pesticides For Agriculture With world hunger continuing to be a pressing problem, chlorine is used in the manufacturing process for crop protection chemicals. Such chemicals help crops resist disease, insects and weeds. In large pesticide manufacturing operations, toxic gas detectors are found in the mixing and blending areas, as well as in storage tank areas for both raw materials and finished products. Food & Beverage From meat to produce to beverages, chlorine is applied as a disinfectant and antimicrobial agent. Chlorine is used as a sanitizer in cleansing employee hands and footwear, in the washing of beef carcasses, in fruit/vegetable spray washing or flume systems, and in the processing of eggs, seafood and much more. Wherever chlorine is stored in tanks or dispensed with injection systems in heavy concentrations, fixed toxic gas detectors can protect people and equipment. Total Toxic Gas Monitoring System General Monitors' MC600 Multi-Channel Controller is designed to provide an advanced gas monitoring system. One MC600 Controller can be hardwired to up to six TS4000 Toxic Gas detectors installed at strategic plant locations. It delivers a total solution -- high performance, reliability and safety at a low cost per point. Copyright © 2004 General Monitors, Inc. All logos, brand and product names are registered trademarks of their perspective owners. All rights reserved. Questions or comments to ToxicGas@generalmonitors.com |
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