Personal Gas Monitors - an anecdote

Whilst working in Iraq I spent a lot of time in highly hazardous areas. One such area was in the vicinity of LSTs (Liquid Storage Tanks).

These huge tanks would hold vast quantities of oil and despite the integrity of these tanks, they would leak. When I say leak, it wasn’t oil that leaked, but gases. The gas in question was none other than the infamous Hydrogen Sulphide. 

Whilst down there, my alarm sounded and looking down I could see that the ppm meter was going up slowly. We cautiously made our way out of the bunded area and upwind into safety. One thing to bear in mind is the fact that we clipped the gas monitors on our legs. Many would clip these onto their chests, but if the area was flooded, I’d want a head start to get out in time. There’s also another good reason. Imagine going down into a deep drain. You’d want the sounding alarm around your legs, rather than your breathing area. 

One key point I took away from this was that I’d always wear my alarms on my legs if the gas was heavier than air (which, in this case, it was).