NIOSH: Why Responders Must Understand Multi-Gas Monitor Readings

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health issued the following safety advisory in August. We’ve added videos and links to training ideas for multi-gas monitor proficiency.

The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program recommends fire departments ensure all firefighters responding to natural gas and propane incidents are trained to:

• Interpret data from their specific multi-gas monitors to determine if a hazardous atmosphere is present. This can include low oxygen levels or dangerous concentrations of carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide or other toxic gasses.
• Calibrate and maintain gas detection equipment properly by performing bump testing at the beginning of each shift following the manufacturer’s guidance.
• Use of gas detection equipment under a wide variety of conditions including when at the lower explosive limit (LEL) and upper explosive limit (UEL) of a gas or vapor.
• Use multi-gas monitor readings to establish isolation zones and ensure a continuous risk assessment is conducted throughout the incident.

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What do LEL and UEL mean?

The LEL is the minimum concentration of a gas or vapor in air below which propagation of a flame does not occur in the presence of an ignition source. The UEL is the maximum concentration of flammable gas or vapor in air above which propagation of flame does not occur on contact with a source of ignition. The range between LEL and UEL is the flammable range.