Personal, wearable instrument alerts workers to exposure of toxic H2S gas providing instantaneous alarms for life-critical safety scenarios

Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S) is a fast-acting poison that can desensitise and render the body unconscious in no time. As the human senses are not reliable indicators, wearable gas sensors are necessary for early detection. ION Science’s new ARA H₂S personal single gas monitor offers 24 months’ continuous operation and robust design for use in harsh environments. It enables workers in a wide range of industrial process applications to monitor their exposure to the toxic gas and provide an alert when safe levels are exceeded.

H₂S is commonly found during the drilling and production of crude oil and natural gas, plus in wastewater treatment and utility facilities and sewers. The gas is produced as a result of the microbial breakdown of organic materials in the absence of oxygen and can also be found in textile manufacturing, food processing, hot asphalt paving and mining.

Colourless, flammable, poisonous and corrosive, H₂S gas is noticeable by its rotten egg smell but continuous exposure to even low levels quickly deadens olfactory desensitisation. Although the scent of H₂S is a characteristic, smell is not a dependable indicator of gas presence or for indicating increasing concentrations of it.

With toxicity similar to carbon monoxide which prevents cellular respiration, monitoring and early detection of H₂S could mean the difference between life and death.

The small, lightweight ARA H₂S single gas detector is low maintenance, disposable and offers a continuous run time of two years as standard, whilst an additional hibernation model provides three years’ operation. The instrument help employees work safely and cost-efficiently, providing an alert to the presence of unsafe H₂S levels.

ION Science’s ARA H₂S single gas detector is designed for use as a safety compliance device to be worn throughout daily shifts within a range of industry sectors including oil & gas, chemical, manufacturing, government & defence, water, aerospace and power generation, and across a variety of applications such as site-wide safety, confined space entry, plant shutdown processes and first response safety.

User set low and high alarms will alert the wearer and surrounding colleagues to the presence of hazardous H₂S gas exposure. When an alarm occurs, the user must exit the area or put-on PPE, in line with company or local health and safety guidelines.

The low-maintenance ARA H₂S single gas detector is easy to use and operate with one button operation. The user simply switches the instrument on, and it will operate continuously for two years displaying real-time readings and instantaneous alarms to protect the workforce within hazardous environments. Hibernation models allow the device to be placed on standby to extend battery life up to three years. An additional benefit of the ARA H₂S single gas detector is its lifetime remaining countdown feature that helps users to plan for future projects and site shutdowns.

ARA’s self-test feature tests the audio, visual and vibrating alarms, giving users confidence that they are in safe hands. Easy to perform in a single button press and with user-configurable reminders, the self-test reassures users that their device is in safe working condition.

The ARA H₂S single gas detectors can be connected to PC software via the ARA IR link, to set bump test and calibration reminders as well as low / high user adjustable alarms. The ARA PC allows users to download 30 recent event logs and configure user settings.

In a strategic move to further expand its portfolio of high-performance gas detection instrumentation, ION Science has launched a range of cost-effective, low maintenance, disposable ARA Single Gas Detectors for compliance monitoring and worker safety.  The personal, wearable instruments enable workers to monitor their exposure to toxic gases as well as oxygen enrichment and depletion, alerting them when safe levels are exceeded. Ideal for petrochemical site plant workers and on-site contractors, the small, lightweight ARA single gas detector comprises six models including four gas types: hydrogen sulphide, oxygen, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide.