Rank: Forum user 
|
looking for a bit of advice...Currently working on a sour gas site where there is a requirement to wear ESCBA while outside which can be up to 9 or 10 hours per day for some of the workforce. The approximate weight is 9 Kg and the carrying frame is of a full back-pack type with an adjustable waist band.
I should also point out that masks are not normally worn and will only be donned if personal gas monitors indicates or the site toxic alarm sounds.
If anyone out there has worked in similar conditions, I would be very interested to hear how they managed this from a manual handling and fatigue perspective.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Is this B.A set purely for emergency purposes? Alarm sounds, don the Facemask and then evacuate? If this is the case have you locked at the 15 or 20 minute escape sets. These weigh, if memory serves me correctly, approximately 2kg therefore considerably lighter than the full B.A set you describe. These can be donned in a matter of seconds allowing the workers to evacuate the area. If further investigation is required then the B.A. set you have can be used. The sets I have mentioned are purely for emergency purposes, they are not designed for rescue etc due to the limited air held within the cylinder.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Agree with Smudger, consider the "ELSA" type set which is basically an air bottle and hood in a shoulder bag purely for escape and gives 4 or 10 minutes use or even lighter to carry are rebreather escape sets which are usually belt mounted and much less of a hindrance to the primary work activity. Training is needed for both.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Thanks for responses gents. Unfortunately the standard escape sets you are referring to are not capable of dealing with the large concentrations of H2S likely to to be present on the plaform in question following a release from identified potential leak sources. Concentrations can be as much as 200,000 PPM based on likely scenarios from QRA studies.
Having explored this further, I do not believe there is anything on the market outside what we are currently using which is a 3 litre cylinder with full damand valve and mask.
We have a combination of Drager, MSA & Scott sets on site with a preference towards Scott based on the ergonomics and slightly lighter weight. However; as per my initial post, it is a tall order to wear for a full 12 hour shift.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Quite a problem. What are your cylinders made of?
Fire fighting sets on RN Minehunters have Kevlar/GRP cylinders which we really appreciated because they are so much lighter although the reason for their introduction was a lack of magnetic signature.
|
 1 user thanked Adams29600 for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Thanks Adam.... yes they are also composite material which makes them a bit lighter than the standard steel cylinders; however the complete set is still weighing in at around 9 Kg's
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.