One of the greatest hazards associated with nitrogen and other inert gases, such as argon, carbon dioxide and helium, is asphyxiation. In other words, they displace and dilute oxygen and can suffocate people.
Most asphyxiation incidents occur because workers enter vessels or confined spaces connected to an inert gas supply before checking the oxygen concentration in the air.
Training Matters
Before even starting work, your employees must be informed about potential risks and trained in safety-aware procedures, including appropriate practices for entering confined spaces. The right work permits are also essential. To help you get your staff up to speed, we teamed up with the European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA) to develop dedicated training material.
We also developed a campaign against asphyxiation flyer in collaboration with EIGA.
